DECC has stepped up its promotion of the Energy Crops Scheme, and has now confirmed an increase in grant from 40% to 50% of costs.
The Energy Crops Scheme aims to increase the amount of energy crops grown in England, by offering grants to farmers in England for the establishment of miscanthus and short rotation coppice, through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).
These biomass crops are a renewable substitute for fossil fuels in electricity and heat production, so they can contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, helping to combat climate change.
Given the growing strategic importance of a domestic biomass energy supply in its Renewable Energy Strategy, DECC (Department for Energy and Climate Change) has been promoting the Energy Crops Scheme through advertisements in the farming press, distribution of information leaflets (see PDF document link below), and a programme of farm demonstration days to be run in early 2010.
After seeking European Commission approval to increase the grant from 40% to 50% of actual costs, DECC has now confirmed that this will apply from 1st January 2010 onwards. Although the closing date for applications in the leaflet below is 30th September 2009, Natural England is continuing to process as many applications as possible for the 2010 season.
Energy Crops - a growing opportunity (PDF leaflet)
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