Robert Greenow

Integrating energy crops for AD into established farming systems

Transcript

1. Robert Greenow Director, BioG UK
2. Integrating Energy Crops into Existing Farming Systems By Rob Greenow Director
3. Contents •Introduction – Who and what is BioG UK? •Team specialities. •What are energy crops? •Examples of using energy crops. •Contracts and paperwork. •The energy crop argument. •Questions.
4. BioG UK - Overview Dairy Farming Contracting Technology Finance
5. The Team •Over 40 staff across the 3 regions. •Based in Upper Austria and UK. •Owned plants for the last 8 years. •Significant farming experience.
6. BioG Specialities Joint Ventures •Technology investment provides peace of mind to client. •Finance package with site lease and feedstock agreements. Contract Farming •Low risk diversification option for farmers and landowners. •Attractive land rents and site leases offered. Crop Research and Trials
7. What Is an Energy Crop? • Primary use is to convert natural energy from sunlight to a useable energy form from heat, ethanol, bio-diesel to bio-methane. Biogas Energy Crops Include Maize Wholecrop Grass
8. The Key Energy Crops for AD? Maize •Large volume of biogas per acre grown. •High potential yields. •Good break crop. •Spring crop alternative. •Can be affected seasonally. •Limited to parts of the country.
9. The Key Energy Crops for AD? Wholecrops •Wide choice from rye, hybrid rye, triticale, barley & wheat. •Greater yield stability. •Most farms have machinery. •Flexibility in establishment and harvesting. •More expensive to grow. •Lower gas yield per acre.
10. The Key Energy Crops for AD? Grass •Wider area to grow. •Greater yield stability. •Most farms have machinery. •Flexibility in establishment, harvesting and digestate spreading. •More expensive to grow. •Lower gas yield per acre.
11. The Key Energy Crops for AD? Beet •Wider area to grow. •Greater yield stability. •Detailed research into product development. •Potential for high gas yields. •Specialist harvesting. •Harder to ensile and store.
12. Examples of Energy Crops Integrating Example 1 – 1500 acre arable unit •300 acres break crop = maize. •100 – 150 acres of wholecrop rye = spreads risk. •100 acres of grass = grown on marginal land. •Local manure or slurry source. Positives •Spring and break crop provided = blackgrass control. •Utilising marginal land. •Provides flexible fertiliser application.
13. Examples of Energy Crops Integrating Example 2 – Mid sized ex dairy unit •200 acres break crop = maize. •150 acres of wholecrop rye = spreads risk. •150 acres of grass = grown on permanent pasture. •Surrounding farms will have slurry and manure. Positives •Greater potential gross margin than dairy farming. •Utilises existing infrastructure. •Local co-operative of farmers provide land / manure / slurry.
14. The Contracts and Paperwork •Feedstock contract for loan length. •Site with planning permission (with no other links). •Guaranteed technology, not a new invention. •Service and maintenance backup for loan length. •“Over-spec” feedstock amounts for minimal uptime to break even.
15. Energy Crop Argument Hay for Horses •1/3rd of land in 1900’s used as a transport fuel. •Approximately 1.35 million horses in UK. •1.25tonnes per horse x 1.35million = 1.68 million tonnes = 70MW. Golf Course •+/- 2,000 courses in the UK. •Approximately 150 acres each. 300,000 acres in total. •250MW + (just maize). Coffee Production •1.137 million acres of land used to cultivate. •Plus the carbon burnt and fuel used to transport around the world?
16. Contact Rob Greenow 01785 284 684 info@biog-uk.co.uk robert.greenow@biog-uk.co.uk