REA welcomes Biomass Policy Statement

• REA welcomes Biomass Policy Statement (BPS);
• Releasing this statement on COP26 Energy Day recognises the critical role bioenergy plays in delivering the UK’s Net Zero targets;
• REA say the Biomass Strategy due in 2022 must set ambitious targets, whilst also building on the success of existing bioenergy sectors.

The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) have welcomed the publication of a BPS, saying that the announcement on COP26 Energy Day recognises the critical role bioenergy plays in delivering both global and the UK’s Net Zero targets.

The BPS comes alongside the recent biomass call for evidence to help develop the policies needed to make the best use of biomass across the economy in support of Net Zero. These will in turn inform the Biomass Strategy, due to be published in late 2022.

The REA say the Biomass Strategy must build on the success of existing bioenergy sectors which are already delivering immediate carbon savings, as well as providing employment for over 50,000 people across the UK.

Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, CEO of Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), said:

“The REA firmly welcomes the Government’s reasserted policy commitment to the use of biomass in the UK, recognising the critical role bioenergy plays in delivering the 1.5⁰C Paris Agreement and the UK’s own Net Zero targets. Releasing this Policy Statement on COP26 Energy Day sends a clear signal that the UK remains committed to ensuring that biomass is done right, in line with existing stringent sustainability governance arrangements, both at home and internationally.

“The REA look forward to ongoing engagement with Government to finalise the Biomass Strategy next year, helping to inform a vision for the continuous sustainable use of biomass. In doing so, we also reiterate the importance of building on the success of existing bioenergy sectors, where immediate carbon savings are already being realised across power, heat and transport.

“The implementation of the Biomass Strategy will involve building upon a sector that already provides over 50,000 jobs in the UK. As such, the strategy will need to not only set out an ambition, but ensure it maintains the skills, experience and supply chains already in place. This must be factored in when considering how biomass resources are best used by the UK to remain aligned with the climate commitments being made in Glasgow at COP26.”