Agribusiness News October 2024 – Sector Focus: Biomass

UK Biomass Challenges and Opportunities

Utilising biomass as a source of renewable energy for heat, power and transport is seen as a crucial component of the UK’s transition to net zero.  A Government Report published in 2024 highlighted that 11% of UK electricity was generated from biomass in 2022, and 6.4% of heat was generated from biomass in 2021.

Domestically, we produce 66% of the biomass feedstock we currently require.  Although biomass is seen as a key contributor to our sources of renewable energy, biomass is also currently used for construction materials as well as cosmetics and skincare.  In addition to which, there is the potential for biomass to be used to produce biochar, bioplastics, and pharmaceuticals.  As the requirement for biomass is expected to grow as we switch from non-renewable to renewable energies, and from oil-based products to those made using renewable raw materials; clearly, more biomass is required to meet these demands.

Biomass crops include short rotation forestry, short rotation coppice, and perennial forbs and grasses.  Short rotation forestry is harvested every 5-10 years.  Examples include Alder and Poplar.  Short rotation coppice is harvested every 2-3 years and includes Willow and Poplar.  Grasses are harvested more regularly and include Miscanthus and Switchgrass.  Some of these crop options can be grown as buffer strips or on water margins and have the benefit of reducing pollution, enhancing biodiversity, increasing the soil carbon stocks, and in helping the UK achieve its dual objectives of net zero and enhancing biodiversity.

The use of biomass is suited to small-scale heat and power generation, for example, wood chip and biogas generators.  This could form the basis of an on-farm energy and heat supply, contributing to the business becoming self-sufficient in heat and light.  Equally, it can operate at a community level, for example local heat networks, or it can operate at an industrial scale, for example, Drax power station in North Yorkshire.

Biomass at community or industrial scale creates market challenges.  A significant challenge for the farming community is to co-ordinate and transport the regularity of supply of the high volume of biomass required.  This may require co-operation between growers.  A second challenge is establishing a pricing or support regime that sufficiently rewards the farmer for the risks associated with growing the crop.  Additionally, there are potential opportunities for alternative use of the biomass, but these markets are currently undeveloped.  Some of these challenges are recognised by the UK’s biomass strategy 2023.

Interested in knowing more?

The Biomass Connect Project, led by UKCEH, has the objective of providing support and guidance for farmers considering this land use option.  In Scotland, SRUC has demonstration sites at Auchincruive, Ayrshire and Boghall, Edinburgh.  Other demonstration sites are located in England, Wales, and North Ireland.

Biomass Connect is funded through the government’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, which looks to accelerate the commercialisation of low-carbon technologies and systems.

There is also a wealth of resources on growing biomass crops and their environmental benefits on the Biomass Connect website www.biomassconnect.org.

Topically, there is a Biomass Connect Showcase Event on the 7 & 8^th November 2024 at The Slate, Warwick – please see Biomass Connect Showcase Event for more information.

Kairsty Topp, Kairsty.Topp@sruc.ac.uk