the-BA : Biofuel Britain

By Claire Witham

Fields of grass taller than lampposts could become a new winter countryside sight as the UK tries to meet its renewable energy needs.

Miscanthus grass and willow could lead the way as biomass crops for heat, electricity and transport fuels, said Dr Angela Karp from the Rothamsted Research Centre at the BA Science Festival today.

These crops provide ten times as much energy as is needed to grow them so will be essential in helping meet EU targets of 20 per cent of all our energy being from renewable sources by 2020. At least 7 per cent has to come from biofuels, but currently we only get 3 per cent this way.

Unlike other biofuels, both miscanthus grass and willow are carbon neutral so they take in as much carbon dioxide as they release, which is good for combating climate change.

They also require very little fertiliser and insecticide, so have a very small chemical impact on the land.

But these new crops will cause a big change in how the landscape looks. Both plants grow to over four metres tall.

Instead of bare fields in winter, we would see dense fields of tall yellow grass over much of the country, particularly in the south and east.

Miscanthus grass, originally from Asia, is unusual as it is harvested in early spring.

As much as a fifth of all agricultural land, over one million hectares, will be needed for these new biomass crops to meet the energy targets, said Dr Karp.

The Rural Economy and Landuse programme has been looking into what impact a switch to biomass crops might have on wildlife, water use, people and the landscape.

They have produced a map to show where would be best for these crops. Ideal areas are where farming is already occurring, but the land is poor for other crops.

Although no negative environmental effects have been identified yet, it will take a generation before the impacts are fully understood.

During the Festival, shoppers in York will be able to explore how these crops might change the landscape with an interactive display.

The 3D computer simulations will allow visitors to fly through the countryside and provide their reactions on how the new crops will look. Researchers hope that the public will react positively to such a dramatic change, given the essential role of biofuels for future energy supply.

Read more news coverage in the Times and watch the video highlights at BBC News.