Further information on Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) is available via various websites and publications. A good overview of SRC is provided by the Short-Rotation Willow Coppice - Growers Manual, published by the Swedish Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering.

Teacher notes: In short rotation coppice (SRC), willow is typically grown over a four year period and then harvested as coarse wood chips. These are often transported to a district heating plant, where they can be combusted in an automated biomass boiler. For illustrative purposes the above animation shows a simplified view of a boiler heating radiators in a large house. In reality, the system is more complicated with thermostatic controls, pumps and possibly a water-to-water heat exchanger to provide hot water, as well as heat. The wood chip will generally need to be dried prior to combustion. For domestic applications, wood pellets are easier to use, as they are more uniform and are better suited to smaller sized feeding mechanisms. However, the basic principle is the same.

The growing trees convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars via photosynthesis using energy from the sun. The sugars are then used by the plant to create wood (lignocellulose). The wood is harvested and combusted with high efficiency to heat water, which is circulated through a wet system (radiators) to provide heat to schools, homes or other buildings.

The carbon dioxide absorbed by the trees when they are growing is released when they burn (carbon neutral). However, the overall energy balance of the system has to take into account any fertilisers or fuels (possibly from fossil sources) that may be used in growing, processing or transporting the wood.