Low biomass uptake as scheme fails to excite farmers

Interest in farming willow trees for biomass remains very low, with Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney revealing that only four applications were made this year in the 2015 Bio-Energy Establishment Scheme.

This has been in place since 2007, and specifically provides support for establishment of willow plantations.

The scheme has been variously funded at different times solely by the Exchequer or by a combination of national and EU funds.