The UK government has published a policy statement on the use of biomass. It provides initial indications and intentions on the strategy to be followed by 2022.
Furthermore, according to the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the declaration provides a vision for the future of biomass.
More precisely, the document addresses the strategic role of biomass in the energy, heat, transport and industry sectors.
The United Kingdom defines the principles that point to biomass as a means to achieve one of its main goals: reaching zero net emissions.
These lines to follow, outlined in the short and medium term, deal with sustainability criteria and the contribution to carbon budgets.
Biomass to address decarbonization
The statement’s key principles include compliance with sustainability criteria, contribution to carbon budgets and lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions.
Moreover, it contemplates biomass to be used carbon capture utilization or storage where feasible. Otherwise, the document indicates that it should be used only in sectors that are difficult to decarbonize with limited or already low-carbon alternatives.
Thus, the UK government indicates that the use of mass should be prioritized following the above principles. Particularly in areas such as sustainable aviation fuel and hydrogen production.
Consequently, this will help to decarbonize the aviation and industrial sectors. So, the goal is to replace fossil fuels and make them valuable products that provide a circular economy benefit.
“Over time, as technology develops, we expect the use of biomass to also focus on applications that can provide negative emissions through bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) while supporting energy security.” the government wrote in the paper.
Green technologies advances
Drax Group notes that it is crucial to tackle the climate crisis and supports the UK government in its ambitions to plan policies that attract private investment to advance green technologies.
“With the right business model from the government, Drax is prepared to invest £2 billion in BECCS. It could deliver the world’s largest carbon capture project here in the UK, permanently removing 8 million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere each year by 2030,” said Will Gardiner, CEO of Drax.
The U.K. Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) issued a statement in which they expressed their approval of the government’s commitment. The REA adds that bioenergy plays a key role in achieving the UK’s Net Zero targets.
In their statement, they also remarked that the Biomass Strategy will be a step forward in a sector that already provides more than 50,000 jobs in the UK.
However, according to Skorupska, “the strategy must not only be ambitious but must ensure that existing skills, expertise and supply chains are maintained.”
Therefore, this must be taken into account in order to optimize biomass resources and work. In consonance with the climate commitments made in Glasgow at COP26.
Sources
Voegele, E., 2021. UK publishes biomass policy statement | Biomassmagazine.com. [online] Biomassmagazine.com. Available at: <http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/18454/uk-publishes-biomass-policy-statement> [Accessed 17 November 2021].
GOV.UK. 2021. Biomass policy statement: a strategic view on the role of sustainable biomass for net zero. [online] Available at: <https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/biomass-policy-statement-a-strategic-view-on-the-role-of-sustainable-biomass-for-net-zero> [Accessed 17 November 2021].