The case for Willow as a Bio Energy Crop
Greenhouse gas emissions from Ireland still exceed our Kyoto limit.  In March 2007, EU heads of state agreed to cut emissions by at least 20% of 1990 levels by 2020 with a further commitment to cut emissions to 30% below 1990 levels in the case of an international agreement. The Minister for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley TD, in his budget speech in December 2009 committed Ireland to reducing its emissions by 80% of our 1990 levels by 2050 . Emissions from the energy generation (21.6%) and residential sectors (10.3%) represent a substantial proportion of national emissions. The replacement of fossil fuels with indigenous bioenergy resources can make a substantial contribution to national emission targets. Dr John Finnan, Teagasc

Willow short rotation coppice (SRC) as an energy source which can help meet these targets. Willow SRC can provide a renewable energy source that produces very low net CO2 emissions and low levels of nitrogen and sulphur pollutants (Patterson, 1994; Matthews and Robertson, 2001). In addition to these benefits, Willow SRC  requires a reduced chemical input when compared to conventional arable crops, can provide an alternative use of agricultural land and can enhance the local environment through increased biodiversity. The establishment of Willow SRC plantations has more in common with agricultural or horticultural crops than forestry. Ground preparation is carried out using conventional agricultural machinery and methods. Generally, the crop is planted by simply pushing cuttings, approximately 20 cm long and 1 cm in diameter, into the cultivated soil. Shoots and roots quickly develop from these cuttings. Typically two or three shoots sprout from each cutting and grow between two and three metres in the first growing season. This growth is cut back after one growing season to just above ground level. This encourages the developing coppice stool to produce more shoots in the following year.

These shoots are then left to grow on for 2 years before being harvested with specialised machinery. The stool is left in the ground and produces more shoots that grow for a further 2 years until the next harvest. Several 2 year cutting cycles can take place for up to 30 years .