By DARA BUTTERFIELD, Scottish Energy News
The Government’s quarterly Energy Trends publication has revealed a record contribution from bio-energy to keeping Britain’s lights on and our cars moving whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2014 Q2, bioenergy accounted for a record 5.6TWh (7%) of electricity generation. This is an increase of 8.8% compared with a year earlier, due mainly to the conversions at Drax and Ironbridge, which have started burning sustainable biomass fuel instead of coal.
However, the Renewable Energy Association (REA) has called for removal of government caps on biofuels and for favourable policies for biomass. Dr Nina Skorupska, Chief Executive, said:
“Biomass has reached a new record today, but this valuable growth won’t continue unless the Government puts supportive policies in place.
“The fuel in our tanks has never been greener than in the last quarter, which is great news, but our consumption of sustainable biofuels is too unstable at the moment, with inconsistent policies leading to jumps one quarter and drops the next.
“The Government must remove the artificial constraints on sustainable biofuels, so that current businesses have a UK market to sell into, and future businesses have the certainty they need to invest in the stable growth of the sustainable biofuels industry.”
“As the largest renewable energy trade association in the UK the REA hopes that new legislation will drive further growth in both biofuels and bio-energy.”
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