Biomass is fuel derived from organic materials and a renewable, sustainable source of energy which can be used to create heat, electricity and transport fuels. Biomass is primarily the ‘waste, low quality’ part of trees and includes wood pellets, wood chips, timber off-cuts, certain crops and types of waste residues.
Biomass and its future role in decarbonising heat:
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme will close to new applications on 31 March 2021. Biomass heat has been the most successful technology used in the UK for renewable heat installations (as part of the scheme) however, no alternative or extension policies have yet been tabled by Government.
Biomass heat has a key role to play in the UK’s future renewable energy mix to help the country secure legally-binding carbon reduction targets and net-zero ambitions by 2050. This is especially relevant in rural and off-gas grid areas as in addition to tackling climate change issues, the use of biomass could also sustain and help grow the rural economy.
Through sustainable working economies and effective woodland management, the specification of biomass could create jobs, support (and protect) established supply chains and provide diversification opportunities to rural businesses. Biomass is often the most cost-effective, viable and low carbon option for many rural and farming communities.
Supporting UK economic growth:
The UK has a well-established, proven, biomass heat sector already in place which supports 46,000 bioenergy jobs, 700 supply chain companies, and provides new economic growth opportunities whilst delivering significant carbon savings. Biomass is projected to become one of the biggest growth areas in renewable resources between 2018-2023 and key to achieving a low carbon economy.
Enhancing opportunities in rural communities:
Biomass is a proven technology and offers diversification opportunities for business owners. It has clear synergies with a developed and sustainable circular economy through the support of waste management (residues), forestry and agriculture.
Proven success (under the RHI):
biomass has been the most successful solution in decarbonising community buildings, schools, hotels and agricultural processes, providing significant cost and carbon savings to domestic and commercial users.
renewable heat generation increased by 11% in 2018 and of this increase, 46% was from plant biomass. Biomass is the single largest contributor to heat decarbonisation in the UK - the current lack of future policy risks undermining this progress to date.[2]
over the past ten years, deployment of biomass heat in agriculture has grown significantly, accounting for at least one third of energy use for heating, displacing the use of fossil fuels and tackling a ‘hard to treat’ area of the economy.
In 2017, there were 700+ companies across the UK wood heating supply chain supporting approximately 13,500 jobs.[3]
Jobs creation:
The UK biomass boiler market saw a 4.9% increase in employment growth (2017/18) and is one of the fastest growing renewable sub sectors [4]. Over 12,000 people were employed across biomass boilers, biomass CHP & biomass power in 2017 [5]. The REA’s Bioenergy Strategy recently estimated that biomass heat in particular has the potential to provide 7,500 jobs in 2026 and 13,400 in 2032 [6].
European comparisons:
The UK Government is lagging behind its European counterparts in decarbonising heat. Other countries are fully invested in their biomass industries. Germany bioheat represents 14% of overall heat production, whereas Sweden and France this figure is 11% and for the whole EU, 16% of energy for heating and cooling derives from bioenergy (73% of bioenergy consumed in Europe was used by the heating sector in 2014). UK bioheat is currently at 4%.
Reduced carbon emissions and costs:
Biomass enables consumers to cut carbon emissions and energy costs. All UK biomass boilers meet UK greenhouse gas emissions criteria and over 75% emit less than one third of the current UK greenhouse gas emissions legal limit. If replacing oil or electric heating, biomass heat can make up to 90% greenhouse gas savings and cut heating bills by one third and two thirds respectively[1]. Biomass could meet up to 15% of renewable heat needs and is the overlooked cornerstone of UK heat decarbonisation.
The UK Pellet Council (UKPC):
The UK Pellet Council is a national trade body and the largest biomass industry group representing major manufacturers and distributors of wood pellets, and biomass boiler installers. It is the UK delegate of the European Pellet Council and implements the standardisation and certification of pellet quality and safety, and security of supply, education and training. Biomass Heat Works!, created by the UKPC, pulls together the views and opinions of the UK Pellet Council, the Renewable Heat Association (REA) and the Wood Heat Association specifically in relation to biomass wood fuel as a low carbon heat source.
