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Wales Energy Crops Information Centre

Miscanthus economics calculator

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The calculator is based on a conservative yield estimates of 14 t/ha (12 odt/ha) as this is a yield that should be easily obtained by most growers, higher yields are possible with up to 18 t/ha achieved in some UK areas. You can enter details below based on your own knowledge of local costs.. This is a basic calculator to give you a rough idea of likely revenue and costs. It is not a substitute for a full economic feasibility assessment. As a starting point we would suggest 15,000 to 18,000 rhizomes/ha with a unit cost of 6p/rhizome.

Cost of harvesting 1 ha of Miscanthus

Variable Value
No of Rhizomes:
cost per rhizome (pence):
Total rhizome cost (£): 0
Cultivations (£/ha):
Herbicides (glyphosate):
Contract planting (£/ha):
Grant if applicable (£):
Total establishment cost (£): 0
Annualised over 15 years (£): 0
Calculate

Cost of harvesting 1 ha of Miscanthus

A yield of 14 fresh tonnes/ha can be assumed. At 16% moisture this would be 12 odt/ha and is a conservative yield estimate. Costs will differ if the crop is chipped or pelleted instead of baled. The annualised cost of production assumes a conservative 15 year life span for the crop. In practice the lifespan of the crop is thought to exceed 20 years.

Harvesting (£/ha):
Baling at 16%mc:
Carting, stacking and loading (£/ha):
Total harvest cost (£): 0
 
Total cost of production (£/ha/year): 0
Calculate

MARGIN CALCULATIONS based on 12odtyield

Two examples are provided here. The price you will receive will be dependent on current market prices and individual end users. Shredded/chip crop values can be based on wood chip prices with an assumption that Miscanthus would achieve towards the higher end of the scale as it is generally harvested at lower moisture values than SRC. All values in the calculator are based on oven dry tonnes (odt) you may be offered a price for the harvested end product, based on either harvested fresh weight, or oven dried tonnes, in addition delivery may or may not be taken into account. To use the calculator you may need to convert a fresh weight price to an odt price. The energy calculator link on the main miscanthus page of the website can help with this.

Selling to power station Using for local heat production
Production costs (£/ha) 0 Production costs (£/ha) 0
Haulage costs (£/tonne) Bale shredder (£/ha)
Total haulage based on 12 odt /ha 0 Tractor and Trailer (£/ha)
Total costs (£) 0 Total costs (£) 0
Revenue (price received/ fwt tonne of crop) Revenue value of fuel as chips/tonne
Crop revenue based on 12 odt/ha 0 Total revenue based on 12 odt/ha yield 0
SFP if applicable (£/ha) SFP if applicable (£/ha)
Total revenue (£) 0 Total revenue based on 12 odt/ha 0
MARGIN/ha based on 12 odt/ha 0 MARGIN/ha based on 12odt/ha 0
Calculate

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information provided in this website is correct, CALU/ADAS cannot be held responsible for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of its content. Any figures given are indicative only and will vary dependent upon each individual site’s geographic and management characteristics.