Latest green transport fuel could really grow on trees

Published Date: 08 April 2009
By Angus Howarth

WILLOW trees grown in Scotland could provide the transport fuel of the future, according to the latest scientific research.
Dr Angela Karp from Rothamsted Research will give a talk at the Edinburgh International Science Festival today to describe research that shows how sugar can be removed from willow stems and converted into ethanol. She believes it could be used as biofuel in cars in five to ten years' time.Dr Karp will tell an audience at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh the biofuel would be far more environmentally friendly than that created from plants grown in areas where swathes of rainforest have been chopped down – such as palm oil plantations. Willow grows well in cold climates, making it perfect for Scotland. It can be harvested every three years, and could be grown on surplus farmers' fields, bringing new income to the agricultural sector. Willow is also useful for burning to provide heat and electricity, particularly in small-scale plants such as for a school or hotel.Dr Karp said: "These crops would be providing an income, but also helping to bring down carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases."She added: "We can make the fuel now. It's just a question of whether we can do this at a scale that's commercially viable and economic."I think it could happen within five to ten years."She added that it would continue the long history of using willow in the UK. It was widely used in both world wars, for baskets to carry artillery or to parachute supplies to troops.