straw

Straw is an excellent form of biomass because it is a by-product of arable farming. Unlike other biofuels, eg willow coppice, no special measures or additional land are required to grow it. Straw from arable crops is currently baled for bedding etc or chopped and ploughed back into the land. Local farmers will be paid to supply their straw to the plant. The fly-ash from the burning process will be used as soil fertiliser for local farms.

DEFRA's UK Biomass Strategy 2007 stated:

The UK cereal straw (wheat and barley) resource is significant (9-10mt per annum) but much of this is recycled to livestock and much of the rest is ploughed into soil (it has a resource value as a fertiliser and organic matter supplement). However, in Eastern counties of England, a surplus is available. It is estimated, that up to 3mtonnes could be made available in the long term without disrupting livestock use/buying costs.

DEFRA Cereal production figures reveal that huge amounts of straw are available within reach of the Plant location at Tansterne in Holderness. Below is a graphical illustration of the volumes of straw available, by postcode region, in Holderness and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Straw availability by postcode