AbstractWe implemented a spatial application of a previously evaluated model of soilGHGemissions,ECOSSE, in the United Kingdom to examine the impacts to 2050 of land‐use transitions from existing land use, rotational cropland, permanent grassland or woodland, to six bioenergy crops; three ‘first‐generation’ energy crops: oilseed rape, wheat and sugar beet, and three ‘second‐generation’ energy crops:Miscanthus, short rotation coppice willow (SRC) and short rotation forestry poplar (SRF). Conversion of rotational crops toMiscanthus,SRCandSRFand conversion of permanent grass toSRFshow beneficial changes in soilGHGbalance over a significant area. Conversion of permanent grass toMiscanthus, permanent grass toSRFand forest toSRFshows detrimental changes in soilGHGbalance over a significant area. Conversion of permanent grass to wheat, oilseed rape, sugar beet andSRCand all conversions from forest show large detrimental changes in soilGHGbalance over most of the United Kingdom, largely due to moving from uncultivated soil to regular cultivation. Differences in netGHGemissions between climate scenarios to 2050 were not significant. Overall,SRFoffers the greatest beneficial impact on soilGHGbalance. These results provide one criterion for selection of bioenergy crops and do not considerGHGemission increases/decreases resulting from displaced food production, bio‐physical factors (e.g. the energy density of the crop) and socio‐economic factors (e.g. expenditure on harvesting equipment). Given that the soilGHGbalance is dominated by change in soil organic carbon (SOC) with the difference amongMiscanthus,SRCandSRFlargely determined by yield, a target for management of perennial energy crops is to achieve the best possible yield using the most appropriate energy crop and cultivar for the local situation.