WHAT IS BIOMASS POWER?
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Biomass power is electricity generated using plant-based fuels.
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This can include wood pellets and wood chips, bioenergy crops or even agricultural and domestic waste.
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It's renewable because we're continually growing plants and trees for a variety of purposes, but these processes often create residues that aren't needed.
Such residues can be used as a low-carbon, renewable alternative to displace fossil fuels. We can also use purpose-grown crops.
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Biomass power is particularly useful because it does not depend on the weather, making it a uniquely flexible, reliable energy source.
As a result, biomass is Britain's second biggest source of renewable electricity. The Climate Change Committee believes sustainably sourced bioenergy could provide up to 15% of the UK's primary energy by 2050, and has said that "sustainable bioenergy is essential for reaching Net Zero."
ABOUT BIOMASS UK
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Biomass UK represents 200 generators, suppliers and contractors in the UK's international biomass power supply chain.
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Between them, our members are responsible for around 7-9% of Great Britain's electricity supply.
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We're part of the UK's Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), which represents a broad range of renewable energy technologies.
Last quarter, biomass supplied:
of Britain's electricity,
which is
Wind
Solar
Gas
Hydro
Nuclear
Coal
Imports
% of total supply, Q4 2020
7.0%
25.9
1.6
1.9
36.4
1.4
18.4
7.4
19.2%
of our renewable electricity supply.
News
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The Economist reports on progress in combatting deforestation around the world, where developed countries are using regulations and market forces to protect forests and create significantly more forest cover.
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Healthy markets for forest products - including the market for wood fuel - helps to pay for measures that protect against wildfires like those in California in 2018, as well as preventing tree diseases and infestations.
Boosting British infrastructure
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Major investments in the UK's bioenergy supply chain at ports, rail freight and power stations have protected British jobs and smoothed the transition from coal dependence to a low-carbon economy.
Contact Biomass UK
For any enquiries, including media enquiries, please contact us:

Biomass UK, Renewable Energy Association,
80 Strand, London, WC2R 0DT

(+44) (0) 20 7925 3570