ENERGY Crops Consultancy (ECC) is a new renewable green energy company formed during the height of COVID-19 at the start of 2020.

Using wood biomass primarily for energy generation, the company is helping to create sustainable long-term renewable energy solutions to move away from the use of fossil fuels, with the added environmental benefits such as increased biodiversity, soil restoration, early pollination for bees and other insects, carbon storage, and natural flood management.

Working with farmers and landowners to grow and deliver high-quality sustainable end products derived from natural and renewable sources, the company provides both practical advice and hands-on support. Services include land preparation, planting, management and harvesting of energy crops, as well as setting up supply chains to secure income for growers.

With woodchip biomass in greater demand, ECC has now acquired a New Holland self-propelled Forage Harvester from Lloyd Ltd in Carlisle, one of the country’s largest New Holland dealers.

The machine has been fortified with extra protection and fitted with New Holland’s own purpose-built compact FB130 coppice header for its innovative use in meticulously harvesting renewable energy crops such as SRC willow and poplar wood crops across the country.

This means that ECC can now offer a complete end-to-end service from field to end market, able to fully manage the whole process from start to finish and ensure that growers receive the quality harvest they need for a successful future with their energy crops.

“This is such an exciting and innovative way of making use of the impressive technology and capabilities of the New Holland Forage Harvester so we were delighted to be able to work with ECC to make it happen”, said Lloyd Ltd’s Managing Director Barry Lloyd.

“Our workshop team at Carlisle has really enjoyed tailoring the machine to ECC’s requirements as it’s such a different approach from how these machines are normally used,” added Mr Lloyd.

Neil Watkins, co-founder of Energy Crops Consultancy, is delighted with the new partnership. “This new specialist forage harvester is a fantastic opportunity for us as it gives us scope to expand our offering which our growers will benefit from.”