These giant bales look slightly unusual in a rural Northamptonshire field. They are not traditional straw bales, but in fact bales of Miscanthus. Miscanthus is a fast-growing perennial grass that is increasingly being grown in the UK as a source of bioenergy. Miscanthus bales can be burnt in suitably equipped power stations as a substitute for fossil fuels.
Over 8,000 hectares of Miscanthus were grown in the UK in 2019. This represents just 0.1% of arable land, but the planted area is growing. DEFRA data published at the end of 2020 show that 49,000 tonnes of Miscanthus were burnt for electricity in UK power stations in 2019.
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