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Renewable Energy - Paulownia Forestry Plantations (Hardwood & Fuel Wood)

Our plantation partners are growing Paulownia in Germany on a commercial basis and we are now able to offer clients the opportunity to purchase either Freehold or Leasehold plots. The land and trees will be registerd in your name and your plot can be managed on a contractual basis in order to maximise the returns when your trees are harvested. You have full control and can appoint an alternative management company at any time.

The Paulownia (or Kiri tree) is a remarkable tree, fast growing and a hardwood, it can be used for many different purposes. Ranging from use in furniture to surf boards, Paulownia timber is becoming quite a succes story worldwide.

Until recently, Paulownia could only thrive in warmer climates, but intensive research over the last few years has resulted in the development of a few clones that can also thrive in the European climate.

You will be leasing the land, not owning it. Projected return comes from sale of timber only.

The German climate has one big advantage over the warmer climates in say Central America or Australia: it has real seasons!

The big benefit of having real seasons, with temperature changes, is that the produced timber is more colourful and therefore more appealing for the timber market. Naturally, Paulownia grown in Germany will not grow as fast as in warmer climates. This is benefitial for the quality of the timber though.

When Paulownia grows very fast, the quality of the timber is lower than when it grows slower. Slower growing Paulownia produces denser wood, which is stronger than that of faster growing Paulownia. In the timber trade this is measured as follows:

Grade C:   4 Growth rings per inch, with 2 defects
Grade A:   8 Growth rings per inch, with 0 defects

Class A is the most valuable wood. Naturally, fast growing Paulownia (as in the tropics) will only have a few growth rings per inch and the timber will be of less value than that of slower growing Paulownia (as in Germany).

What is Paulownia?

Paulownia is a wood that can be grown for Biomass use i.e. wood fuel. Known in the industry as the “Aluminium of timbers”, Paulownia is 30% lighter than any comparable hardwood, it is twist, shrink and warp resistant and virtually rot free. The fine grained and warp resistant properties make Paulownia wood exceptionally suited for making wooden surfboards, lightweight touring skis as well as boats, pallets, household furniture and plywood.

Several institutions are conducting research to develop fast growing Paulownia as a viable source of bio-fuel, a crucial step towards solving the global energy crisis. Private investors can purchase individual plots of land over a total investment period of twenty years*. The investor will benefit from 4 harvests during this period.