UK government launches consultation on developing biomass and carbon capture

The UK government has launched a consultation on how to support the development of biomass energy generation with associated carbon captured in the UK over the next decade.

The consultation seeks views on the government's minded-to position for a business model to incentivise deployment of power bioenergy and carbon capture (BECCS) within the UK.

In particular, it hopes to assess how the government can help attract private investment to accelerate the development of this nascent industry, to help boost Britain’s energy security, while also supporting new job opportunities across the country including industrial clusters developing carbon capture networks.

The government hopes to hear from prospective power BECCS projects, investors, non-governmental organisations and academics. It wants perspectives on its early proposals including the main design elements of the business model and actions the government can take to enable deployment of this technology at scale, including steps to encourage the development of this industry, and to address any possible barriers to investment.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: "The government is fully behind biomass energy to provide more power in Britain, for Britain. The more clean power we generate within the UK, the less exposed we’ll all be to volatile gas markets that are pushing up bills.

"Today’s plans could create an entirely new industry in our country, using sustainable biomass in a way that absorbs harmful carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. With these reforms, we will boost domestically-produced, cheaper and cleaner sources of energy to power Britain into the future."

Kwarteng's comments follow reports that he admitted biomass had not developed as quickly as other renewable fuel industries.