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.

Explore the full data at www.electricinsights.co.uk

News

'The Foresting of the West'

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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.

Bioenergy: wildfire defence

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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.