“Bringing Willow to the Irish Energy Market”
John Gilliland, Rural Generation Ltd
SEAI/Teagasc Energy Crop Information Day
November 2010
Why Willows?
Short Rotation Willow trees, trialled in Ireland since 1977
The Willow Crop
The Willow Crop,
July, Year 1, After Cut Back
July, Year 3, Year of Harvesting
 Indigenous and aids National fuel security
 Quick Growing, 3 year harvest, then re grows
 Woody species, no problems burning for Heat
 High Yielding, up to 5 dry tonnes/acre/yr
 Loves Water, great for treating Dirty Water
 Non Food Crop, no risk to Food Chain
Why Willow or Other Woody Species?
Heat Cost Comparison for different fuels
SDC “Wood Fuel for Warmth” - Wood prices @ 35% Moisture Content
Wood Chip is a Competitive Fuel – Oil @ 45c/l = €182/odt
Excluding Capital Cost
Why Wood Heat – Cost Effective Carbon
Reduction!
Carbon Trust
Why Willow – Efficient Use of Land
SAC
Why Willow – Good Profitability
Average Margin/acre/Yr over 9 Years
Harvesting & Drying costs, but No Single Farm Payment
Woodchip price
€110/ov.
Dry
Tonne
€130/ov.
Dry
Tonne
€150/ov. €170/ov.
Dry
Dry
Tonne
Tonne
Standard Crop
€98
€164
€231
€298
With
Bioremediation
€184
€251
€317
€384
Essential to develop high value added market!
Bioremediation only on suitable land
Adding Value – “On Farm”
McGuiness Bros, Co. Louth
130kW Multi Fuel Boiler
Sustainable Energy Ireland
2009 Innovation Awards
Runner Up
All Grains, Wood Chip, Pelleted Straw/Miscanthus
Net Saving Drying Grain in 2008, €17,000 (IFJ
Adding Value – “Selling Heat”
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Omagh Leisure Centre
500kW, heat only, Boiler
Installed Sept 2008
Run 1,700,000 kWh in 12 Months
Oil Displaced = 160,500 Litres
Oil Cost pa = €86,670 (€0.54/l)
Wood Chip Cost pa = €46,470
Saving pa = €40,200
Payback without Grant or Carbon = 2.4 years
410t of Carbon Saved = Circa €6,150 @ €15/t of Carbon
Adding Value – “Not Every Installation
Pays!!”
20kW KW B Pellet Boiler, 5kW Solar Energy Cabin
Cost €17,000, Saving €1,000, Pay Back 17 Yrs
Heat Load too low!!
Boilers – Every Customer’s needs are Different!
10 kW to 7MW – Hot Water or Steam
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Farm 2000:
25kw – 300kW Straw & Timber
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KWB:
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BioKompakt: 25kW – 250kW Multi fuel (including Miscanthus)
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Hertz:
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Energy Cabin: 20kW – 1MW Wood Chip & Pellets
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Justsen:
10kW- 300kW Wood Chips & Pellets
500kW – 1MW Wood Chips & Pellets
1MW – 7MW Wood Chips & Pellets
Adding Value – “Fire Lighters & Logs”
“ZIP” – World Leading Fire Lighter Manufacturer
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Irish Innovation - Switched to Dry Willow & Natural Wax
5,000 Dry Tonnes of Willow with in Five Years
Launched September 2010
10 Year Contracts, Contractual Bonus for Signing
Net Income of €120 - €150/acre/yr
Developing A Wood Fuel Market
Quality Control of Wood Chip Essential!!
Quality of fuel Essential for Consumer Confidence!
(Harvesting cleanly, drying, storing and grading, essential to
achieve good quality!)
Developing A Wood Fuel Market
Quality Control of Wood Chip Essential!!
September 2010, first woodchip company to secure new “Quality
Wood Fuel Standard” from National Standards Association of
Ireland
Good Site Selection Essential
For High Yields Of Wood!
Up to 80% yield reduction through bad site selection.
Both fields pictures of willows planted in the same week!!
Good Planting Essential
For High Yields Of Wood!
Up to 80% yield reduction through bad willow cutting quality,
badly maintained planter & badly placed in soil
Good Weed Control Essential
For High Yields Of Wood!
Up to 50% yield reduction through bad weed control
Mixture Of Willow Clones Essential
For Disease & Pest Control!!
A mixture or polyclonal stand of willows, acts as cultural control for
Diseases & Pests, by greatly slowing down the speed of spread
“Why Rural Generation Ltd?”
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Track Record - First Boiler 1987, First Willows 1994
Willow Planting (5,000 acres) & Harvesting
Willow Cuttings – Swedish & European Breeding Progs.
Sludge Recycling through Injection (30,000t)
Dirty Water Treatment through Willow Biofiltration
Willow Chip & Fuel Supply Contracts
Boiler Sales, Installation & Servicing (120 working)
Heat & Energy Services Contracts (ESCO)
“There are really Good Opportunities
for Farmers in the Irish Energy
Market!!”
67 Culmore Road
Derry, BT48 8JE
+442871358215
www.ruralgeneration.com