Cash for chips from two new energy crop buyers

FARMERS can expect a return of €160 per hectare per annum in contracts offered by Bord na Mona for supply of willow chips to its Edenderry, Co Offaly, power station.

The fuel company is committed to consuming 300,000 tonnes per annum of biomass such as willow by 2015, increasing to about 500,000 tonnes by 2020.

Bord na Mona is willing to enter into 20-year contracts with farmers to purchase their willow crops, and pay growers up to 50km away €10.00 to €11.50/tonne to deliver chips to the power station at Edenderry.