Biomass seen as future energy source

Carlow: Rising oil prices and uncertain future supplies are renewing interest in biomass as an alternative energy source and creating opportunities for tillage farmers in the future.

Teagasc researcher Bernard Rice told the Teagasc National Tillage Conference in Carlow that the era of cheap and abundant oil supplies is over and alternative sources will be necessary over the next 15 years.

In response to the impending scarcity of transport fuels, the EU has set substitution targets for alternatives to the current petrol and diesel use with the aim of achieving a 23% substitution by 2020.