Bioenergy is expected to play a key role in our ability to meet the 2020 renewables target as well as longer term carbon reduction targets to 2030 and 2050. But we recognise that bioenergy is not automatically low carbon, renewable or sustainable: alongside its many positives, bioenergy carries risks.
The UK bioenergy strategy, published jointly by DECC, Defra, DfT sets a framework of principles to guide UK bioenergy policy in a way that secures its benefits, while managing these risks.
The strategy’s overarching principle is that bioenergy must be produced sustainably and that there is a role for UK Government to steer sustainable development of bioenergy in the UK and as far as possible internationally.
The strategy is a result of extensive collaboration between Government Departments, Devolved Administrations and external experts. The strategy is also a response to the Committee on Climate Change’s Bioenergy Review. The strategy provides a holistic view of biomass uses in setting bioenergy policy and will inform policy decisions on electricity, heat and transport. The strategy itself does not include any policies.
The following documents are published alongside the strategy:
The Analytical Annex sets out the bioenergy pathway analysis developed to inform the Bioenergy strategy.
This report provides analysis based on a least cost optimisation model of the UK energy system, with specific emphasis on bioenergy.
An estimation of the possible levels of UK employment in the biomass combustion (heat and power) and anaerobic digestion sectors by 2020, covering development, construction and operation of energy conversion plant. The analysis is based on the deployment potential set out in the 2011 UK renewable energy roadmap.
A review of the evidence relating to the potential of dedicated energy crops in the UK, including an analysis of barriers to deployment and an estimation of possible levels of production in 2020.
A summary of the barriers to deployment of bioenergy technologies in the heat, power and fuel sectors, ranked by the likely severity of impact and with government and industry mitigation actions highlighted.
An analysis of the carbon impacts per hectare of growing and using energy crops versus alternative uses. The study only considered direct carbon impacts.
A report assessing the potential carbon impacts of using different types of wood for the generation of Bioenergy. This is set against the role played by forest stocks as carbon storage facilities and the impact on carbon emissions of diverting such wood from other uses to bioenergy.
Defra analysis looking at the impacts on agricultural markets of removing the principle tools of biofuel support in the EU and in the US.
Supporting analysis
This report examines potential biomass supply in the UK between 2010 and 2030, given current constraints and the potential to address some of these constraints. It examines the supply side issues only and does not provide projections of deployment or demand. It includes analysis of the resources that could potentially be imported to the UK, as well as of possible prices for traded feedstocks.