A GREAT SANKEY based water company is calling for Cheshire farmers and landowners to take part in ground-breaking energy research by growing crops in spring this year.

United Utilities wants farmers and landowners in its groundwater safeguard zones, including north Warrington, to grow two biomass crops – willow and poplar – on a target 10 hectares of farmland, marginal land, reclaimed land or land prone to flooding.

Biomass crops are crops which are grown specifically to be harvested and burnt in power stations, combined heat and power (CHP) units or heating systems.

Catchment advisor, Veronika Moore, said: “Energy crops can promote net zero emissions, improve water quality, provide natural flood management benefits, boost local biodiversity and provide profitability.”

This research follows the companies recent Miscanthus trial and is part of its goal to improve the quality of raw water at source and reduce the pressure on treatment processes, while benefitting nature.

The trial will monitor the impact of the crops on nitrate leaching by using porous pots to test how effective they are at preventing Nitrogen leaching into groundwater and adversely affecting the raw water quality in the underground aquifers.

The market for these crops is increasing in response to a number of power and heat projects being developed across the UK which use biomass.

n Eligible farmers should register their interest by this Friday, January 15, by emailing: southcatchmentteam@uuplc.co.uk.