Speaking at the Future of Biomass Conference in London, Dr Martin Kremer, Counsellor for Science and the Environment at the German Embassy, said: “Biomass and renewables are essential to addressing climate change and addressing our dependence on fossil fuels. It is obvious that biomass is playing an important role.”
He said that industry needs to find ways to make sure biomass production respects the sustainability agenda.
Dr Kremer added that the renewables sector was a good financial investment: “It still remains a pivotal pillar in our future. It's hard to make the wrong decision from an investment perspective when choosing renewable and biomass.”
Dr Andreas Schutte, Managing Director of company Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe EV said that biomass energy could save up to 68.1 million tonnes of carbon being emitted in Germany. He said biomass was the leading form of renewable energy with 70% of the market and predicted a €9 billion turnover for the sector.
Agenda
Giving a UK perspective, Dr Adam Brown, Sector Champion for Renewable Energy with UK Trade and Investment, said renewable energy and biomass were high on the political agenda for the UK. He said: “There are strong drivers like climate change, and energy security in the UK which mean the topic of biomass and renewables is coming up the agenda.”
He explained that the UK was looking to reduce its carbon emissions by 60% by 2050 and developing biomass and renewable energy is a way of achieving these targets.
Dr Adams pointed out that many traditional coal and nuclear power stations were coming to the end of their working lives and there was an opportunity for the renewables sector to step in. By 2020 he expects the UK to have to import 75% of its energy needs. He said: “We have to meet these concerns and climate change goals.” Dr Adams estimated that around £9 – 11 billion is needed to meet the UK's renewable energy targets.
He revealed that the UK is funding a number of biomass projects including a £40 million plant in Lockerbie which is set to produce 44MW of electricity, powered by Scottish forests. A plant which produces 30 MW of power is also up and running in Teesside. The £60 million facility operates using 300,000 tonnes of recycled timber and willow energy (see letsrecycle.com story).
Future
The governments of both Germany and the UK are working to push the sustainability agenda and increase the market share for renewable energy. Dr Schutte revealed that the German Government is committed to an Energy and Climate Programme and is working on a Biomass Action Plan. They are also working on sustainability standards, which should apply internationally.
Dr Brown said the most important legislation for the renewable sector in the UK was the Renewable Obligations Certificate (Rocs), which oblige energy suppliers to increase their use of renewables to 20% by 2020. The recent Biomass Strategy 2007 is also focused on increasing available resources through better land management, improved use of waste and more energy crops.
Dr Brown said: “We want to create a pull to encourage newer technologies, and those technologies will be rewarded.”
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