Mark Sommerfeld, Head of Power and Flexibility at the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), said:

“Today’s publication of the Power Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage (Power BECCS) consultation is an important step forward that further demonstrates the UK’s global leadership in seeing this innovative technology delivered. Delivery of a viable route to market will allow the UK bioenergy sector to realise commercial scale negative emissions, identified as having a critical role to play in Net Zero scenarios spelled out by the Climate Change Committee, National Grid ESO and IPCC.

“The business model also underlines the importance of the UK’s bioenergy sector today. It is the biomass sectors supply chains, expertise and existing assets that have already significantly contributed to helping decarbonise UK energy demands. The sector stands ready to build on this to see BECCS delivered in the next crucial phase of net zero decarbonisation.

“In addition, existing sustainability governance regulation will provide the foundations for ensuring that biomass feedstocks used in BECCS are produced and used sustainably. The UK has some of the tightest governance arrangements in the world, ensuring emissions are monitored across supply chains; that feedstocks are produced from by-products from sustainably managed forests and that sector activities remain closely regulated.

“The REA and its members look forward to working with government to help design the Power BECCS Business Model, ensuring this crucial sector is delivered.”

—ENDS—