The government has tried to take a systematic approach to a complex mix of policies in its cross-government Bioenergy Strategy.
The strategy, published jointly by the environment, transport and energy departments, attempts to set some overarching principles to deal with sometimes competing claims for bioenergy resources from different industry sectors. It sets out four principles for bioenergy use: providing real carbon reductions, being cost-effective, giving maximum benefit for minimum cost across the economy, and taking account of issues such as food security and biodiversity.
The government said bioenergy could meet 8 to 11 per cent of energy demand by 2020. It cited an estimate from the Energy Technologies Institute that found excluding bioenergy in any decarbonisation strategy would add £44 billion to its cost.
It acknowledged uncertainty over whether the supply of biomass would increase to meet demand – an issue raised by sectors such as the wood panel industry. But the report said the situation was “not so uncertain as would justify inaction”.
The strategy reiterated the need to use biomass for electricity in co-firing and conversion of coal plants, pointing out this provided dispatchable power. It said that option should not be allowed to “lock in” feedstocks, but added that was unlikely, because such plants would be phased out in the 2020s.
The report also signalled a tougher sustainability standard for biomass, but promised to make changes on a timescale that would let suppliers plan for them.
This article first appeared in Utility Week’s print edition of 4 May 2012.
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