Yield and spatial supply of bioenergy poplar and willow short rotation coppice in the UK

Limited information on likely supply and spatial yield of bioenergy crops exists for the UK. Here, productivities are reported of poplar (Populusspp.) and willow (Salixspp.) grown as shortrotation coppice (SRC), using data from a large 49site yield trial network.

A partial leastsquares regression technique was used to upscale actual field trial observations across England and Wales. Spatial productivity was then assessed under different landuse scenarios.

Mean modelled yields ranged between 4.9 and 10.7 ovendry tonnes (odt) ha¹yr¹. Yields were generally higher in willow than in poplar, reflecting the susceptibility of older poplar genotypes to rust and their tendency for single stem dominance. Replacing 10% of arable land, 20% of improved grassland and 100% of setaside grasslandin England and Wales with the three most productive genotypes would yield 13 Modt of biomass annually (supplying 7% of UK electricity production or 48% of UK combined heat and power (CHP) production).

Results show existing SRC genotypes have the immediate potential to be an important component of a mixed portfolio of renewables and that, in future, as new and improved genotypes become available, higher yields could extend this potential further.