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These technical articles, factsheets and case studies provide robust, independent information on biomass feedstock performance, agronomy, economics and environmental benefits, to facilitate discussion and learning regarding the biomass sector.

Presentation: Crops to Products
Slides from a recent Biomass Connect presentation by Jeanette Whitaker from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Type: Presentation
Author: Jeanette Whitaker
Date: December 2023
Crop: All Biomass Crops
Keywords: Biomass Crops, Uses, Products, End Uses, Environmental Uses
Field Report: Comparing bird communities in willow and Miscanthus crop fields
This report outlines a three-day bird survey conducted at two farms, one in Devon and the other in Somerset. One farm had a mixed age willow crop, while the other had a miscanthus crop. The aim of the surveys was to record and map the birds seen at each farm to see what benefits each crop may have for different species.
Type: Report
Author: Ed Drewitt
Date: 25th January 2024
Crop: Willow, Miscanthus
Keywords: Willow, Miscanthus, Biodiversity, Birds
Case Study: SRC Willow – self supply and use in a farm-scale community heating scheme
This case study features a successful farm-scale community heating scheme using short rotation coppice (SRC) willow as a fuel source. The project has been cost-effective and provided a range of benefits, including energy self-sufficiency, reduced carbon emissions, and potential biodiversity enhancements.
Type: Case Study
Author: Kevin Lindegaard
Date: 4th December 2023
Crop: Willow
Keywords: Willow, Case Study, Farm
Why integrate Biomass Crops into Agroforestry Systems?
When incorporated into agroforestry systems, biomass crops contribute in various ways, including, support for pollinator populations, biodiversity enhancement, flood risk reduction, minimized runoff and soil erosion, improved water quality, increased soil carbon sequestration, improved soil health and contribute to climate change mitigation
Type: Technical Article
Author: Dr Nana Afranaa Kwapong
Date: 23rd November 2023
Crop:
Keywords: Agroforestry
Production of Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) as a biomass feedstock
Uses, Benefits, Establishment, Cultivation, Harvesting, processes and economics of Switchgrass.
Type: Technical Article
Author: Dr Nana Afranaa Kwapong
Date: 21st November 2023
Crop: Switchgrass
Keywords:
Case Study: Producing Animal Bedding from Miscanthus
Burlerrow Farm is a 303-hectare mixed farm based in Bodmin, Cornwall. It is run by James Mutton who has been growing miscanthus since 2002. Initially, the crop was used to produce miscanthus rhizomes, but since 2009 they have been producing premium equine and animal bedding.
Type: Case Study
Author: Kevin Lindegaard
Date: 29th September 2023
Crop: Miscanthus
Keywords: Miscanthus, Case Study, Farm
Willow – Crop Information Factsheet
Willow as a biomass crop - All the information in an easy-to-read Factsheet.
Type: Factsheet
Author: Dr. Nana Afraana Kwapong
Date: 15th August 2023
Crop: Willow
Keywords: Willow
Poplar (Populus spp.)
Poplar can be grown as a Short Rotation Forestry (SRF) or Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) and is among the fastest growing of temperate trees and is therefore of considerable interest as a bioenergy crop.
Type: Technical Article
Author: Dr Nana Afranaa Kwapong
Date: 14th August 2023
Crop: Poplar
Keywords:
Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) – A multi-purpose crop
Uses, Benefits, Establishment, Cultivation, Harvesting, processes and economics of Reed Canary Grass.
Type: Technical Article
Author: Dr Nana Afranaa Kwapong
Date: 30th June 2023
Crop: Reed Canary Grass
Keywords:
Biomass feedstock for fuelling gasification technologies
Biomass gasification technologies are projected to play an important role in meeting UK’s net zero emission targets especially when targeted towards use in sectors (heat, industrial, and transport) where options for decarbonisation is difficult or expensive.
Type: Technical Article
Author: Dr Nana Afranaa Kwapong
Date: 11th May 2023
Crop:
Keywords: Gasification
Factsheet – Biomass feedstock for fuelling gasification technologies
Advanced gasification technologies are projected to play an important role in meeting UK’s net zero emission targets especially when targeted towards use in sectors (heat, industrial, and transport) where options for decarbonisation is difficult or expensive.
Type: Factsheet
Author: Dr. Nana Afraana Kwapong
Date: 10th May 2023
Crop:
Keywords: Biofuel, Gasification
Environmental and biodiversity impacts of Miscanthus plantations
Bioenergy crops are set to increase in the UK and the wider landscape. To develop a sustainable biomass market the impacts of biomass crops on environment and biodiversity must be considered. Any agricultural production is primarily based on human demand and there will always be a trade-off between nature and humans or one benefit and another. Miscanthus is a promising energy crop can provide a range of benefits while minimising environmental harm.
Type: Technical Article
Author: Dr Saba E. Amir
Date: 3rd May 2023
Crop: Miscanthus
Keywords: Miscanthus, biodiversity
Factsheet – Growing Industrial Hemp for Biomass
Everything you need to know about growing hemp for industrial biomass: its biology, agronomy and its credentials as a biomass crop. All in a factsheet that is easy to read and easy to share.
Type: Factsheet
Author: Dr. Saba E. Amir
Date: 26th April 2023
Crop: Hemp
Keywords: Hemp
Does production of biofuel mean less food production?
Food and bioenergy need not compete for land, instead, biofuel crops should be integrated into existing landscape and agricultural lands in a multifunctional approach to offer multiple benefits including use as fuel and for other ecosystem services.
Type: Technical Article
Author: Dr Nana Afranaa Kwapong
Date: 25th April 2023
Crop:
Keywords:
Factsheet – Does biofuel production mean less food?
Food vs Fuel Factsheet
Type: Factsheet
Author: Dr. Nana Afraana Kwapong
Date: 19th April 2023
Crop:
Keywords: Biofuel, Food
Hemp as a Biomass Crop
Hemp has great potential to become a promising commodity crop for producing both biofuels and value-added products. It is an excellent rotation crop that fits well with food and feed crops and improves the yield of the subsequent crops due to the beneficial effects of hemp on the soil.
Type: Technical Article
Author: Dr Saba E Amir
Date: 6th April 2023
Crop: Hemp
Keywords:
Harvesting of Short Rotation Coppice Willow
Efforts to reduce harvesting costs by improving the performance and reliability of the harvesters and chip collection system are essential for the profitability of the willow biomass production.
Type: Technical Article
Author: Dr Nana Afranaa Kwapong
Date: 30th March 2023
Crop: Willow
Keywords: Willow, SRC, Harvesting
Black Locust – Crop Information Factsheet
Black Locust as a biomass crop - All the information in an easy-to-read Factsheet.
Type: Factsheet
Author: Dr. Nana Afraana Kwapong
Date: 30th March 2023
Crop: Black Locust
Keywords: Black Locust
Eucalyptus as a short-rotation forestry crop for the UK
A number of Eucalyptus species have been identified as having great potential as a short rotation forestry (SRF) or coppice (SRC) species in the UK. Eucalyptus is suited to short rotation forestry due to its fast growth rate and high biomass yield, which can exceed that of other native species.
Type: Technical Article
Author: Dr Edward Hodgson and Bryan Elliot
Date: 29th March 2023
Crop: Eucalyptus
Keywords: Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus – Crop Information Factsheet
Eucalyptus as a biomass crop - All the information in an easy-to-read Factsheet.
Type: Factsheet
Author: Dr. Edward Hodgson
Date: 22nd March 2023
Crop: Eucalyptus
Keywords: Eucalyptus
Biomass Buffers
Wider adoption of Biomass Buffers could help better manage landscapes to be more resilient to the effects of climate change, mitigate flood risk, and reduce the environmental impacts of intensive agriculture.
Type: Factsheet
Author: Dr. Edward Hodgson
Date: 21st March 2023
Crop:
Keywords: Buffer, Zones, Strips, Biomass, Riparian
Biomass Buffer Strips – using biomass crops in multipurpose land management
A buffer strip is an area of land which is either left uncultivated or planted with perennial grasses, shrubs and trees. Planting strips or alleys of perennial biomass crops on existing agricultural land can provide a number of important benefits in terms of flood management, soil recovery and improvements in biodiversity, in addition to providing a harvestable resource. Wider adoption could help better manage landscapes to be more resilient to the effects of climate change, mitigate flood risk, and reduce the environmental impacts of intensive agriculture.
Type: Technical Article
Author: Dr Edward Hodgson
Date: 20th March 2023
Crop:
Keywords: buffer Strips, Land management, flood mitigation, soil erosion, groundwater, biomass
Biomass Pelletisation: Influence of biomass characteristics on pellet quality
This article explores the critical issues in the biomass pelletisation process, biomass pellet characteristics and the standardisation of high-quality biomass pellets for energy production.
Type: Technical Article
Author: Dr Nana Afranaa Kwapong
Date: 14th March 2023
Crop:
Keywords: Pellets, Pelletisation
Willow Harvesting
Things to consider when harvesting willow
Type: Factsheet
Author: Nana Afranaa Kwapong
Date: 8th Mar 2023
Crop: Willow
Keywords: Willow, Harvesting
Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)
BECCS could provide an important mechanism to reduce emissions and remove greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. However, full life-cycle assessment of biomass production and supply will be critical to ensure BECCS is truly net-negative and does not result in other deleterious effects on our natural environment or food production systems
Type: Technical Article
Author: Dr Edward Hodgson
Date: 1st March 2023
Crop:
Keywords: BECCS, Bioenergy, Carbon Capture
How does Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) willow affect biodiversity?
In this article, we provide insight into the dynamics of interaction of SRC willow and its effect on plant and animal biodiversity.
Type: Technical Article
Author: Dr Nana Afranaa Kwapong
Date: 27th Feb 2023
Crop: Willow
Keywords: Willow, SRC, Biodiversity
What effect does planting biomass crops have on soil carbon?
Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) is formed from the interaction of ecosystem processes such as photosynthesis, respiration and decomposition of SOM. Soil carbon provides the benefit of enhancing soil quality which is essential to sustain and improve food production, increase supply and quality of water, enhance biodiversity, and reduce atmospheric CO2. For these reasons, planting biomass crops help to improve soil quality, provide resilience to physical soil degradation and help mitigate climate change.
Type: Technical Article
Author: Dr Nana Afranaa Kwapong
Date: 31st January 2023
Crop:
Keywords: Biomass Crops, Soil, Carbon
Effect of planting biomass crops on soil carbon
Find out how planting biomass crops provides a mechanism to enhance soil carbon.
Type: Factsheet
Author: Nana Afranaa Kwapong
Date: 30th Jan 2023
Crop:
Keywords: Carbon, Soil Carbon, Biomass Crops
Data Summary – Solid Biomass consumption trends in the UK energy sector 2016-2021
The utilisation of solid biomass as a fuel in generation of heat and power has seen a significant increase over the last ten years as many coal-fired power stations converted to using biomass. This article provides a summary of the data reported by BEIS and OFGEM specific to solid biomass use in the UK heat and power sector over the last 5-10 year period.
Type: Technical Article
Author: Edward Hodgson
Date: 24th Jan 2023
Crop:
Keywords: Bioenergy, Solid Biomass
Small-scale forestry for bioenergy consumption – Part III: Biomass production and incentives
In this article we will explore the further potential for trees and hedgerows in bioenergy production. Parts 1 and 2 covered potential tree species and management techniques, whereas here, part 3 will discuss forestry in terms of biomass.
Type: Technical Article
Author:
Date:
Crop: Woodland Tree Species
Keywords:
Small-scale forestry for bioenergy consumption – Part II: Forestry management
In this article we will explore the further potential for trees and hedgerows, and planting and management methods that could be utilised, when considering woodland creation for bioenergy production.
Type: Technical Article
Author:
Date:
Crop: Woodland Tree Species
Keywords:
Small-scale forestry for bioenergy consumption – Part I: Important tree species for consideration
Here we explore the further potential for trees and hedgerows concerning bioenergy production. This article discusses a selection from the wide range of tree species often cultivated in agroforestry for biomass.
Type: Technical Article
Author:
Date:
Crop: Woodland Tree Species
Keywords:
Miscanthus as an alternative crop for farmers
Type: Technical Article
Author:
Date:
Crop: Miscanthus
Keywords: Miscanthus

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