The most recent event held by the Wales Biomass Centre was the Energy Crops Information Day held at ADAS Pwllpeiran on Thursday 8 th September.

The well attended day (70+ despite the weather!), chaired by Mick Bates AM, proved informative and stimulated a wide ranging discussion which highlighted the challenges facing the development of an energy crop industry in Wales . Amongst these challenges is the need to devise an Energy Crops Scheme similar to that in England where £20million has been allocated to support the initial development of an integrated energy crop industry. The view of attendees was that this is essential to help to achieve a carbon neutral Wales and to meet the legal requirements of the Government of Wales Act Clause 121, relating to sustainable development.

As an example that highlights the obstacles to the immediate progress of bioenergy schemes, Paul Ratcliffe from Pembrokeshire Bioenergy Ltd described the problems he currently faces in recruiting farmers to grow crops for the Bluestone project's combined heat and power (CHP) scheme. Despite the benefits of a dedicated local market, high establishment costs for locally produced energy crops and future lack of financial support for infrastructure threaten this potentially ideal, and groundbreaking, demonstration project. In contrast, in England , the Energy Crops Scheme provides grant aid both for establishment of energy crops and to set up producer groups with equipment and handling facilities.

The attendees discussed the scope for integration of energy crops support into existing schemes, in particular into agri-environment funding schemes, as a route to encourage rural development. It was felt that an Energy Crops Scheme for Wales could compliment the Wood Energy Business Scheme (WEBS) and provide a local supply of biofuels to stimulate local infrastructure for community heat and power projects.

We hope that these issues will be recognised and considered in the future development of strategies and policy for Wales, such as the forthcoming Rural Development Plan review, particularly in the light of the recent announcement by the Scottish Executive (subject to approval by the European Commission) to provide grant aid to match the English Energy Crop Scheme.

We have written to members of the government of the National Assembly for Wales to relay the comments from this open day and await a response.