The two forms of energy forestry are short rotation coppice and short rotation forestry: The main advantage of using "grown fuels", as opposed to fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil, is that while they are growing they absorb the near-equivalent of carbon dioxide (an important greenhouse gas) to that which is later released in their burning.
[3] Yields of some varieties can be as high as 11 oven dry tonnes per hectare every year.
[6] In fact, experiments in Sweden with willow plantations have proved to have many beneficial effects on the soil[7] and water quality[8] when compared to conventional agricultural crops (such as cereal).
This beneficial effects have been the basis for the designed of multifunctional production systems to meet emerging bioenergy demands and at the same time, increase the local biodiversity, reduce soil erosion and nutrient emissions to water, increase soil carbon, enhance pollination, and avoid or mitigate flooding events.
[9] Although in many areas of the world government funding is still required to support large scale development of energy forestry as an industry, it is seen as a valuable component of the renewable energy network and will be increasingly important in the future.