Responding to recent articles questioning carbon accounting methods for Biomass Power, the REA has released the following statement:

“The UK Biomass Power sector operates under internationally-agreed, science based carbon accounting rules which acknowledge the way in which land sector emissions are counted, including the growth and harvesting of biomass, balancing out the stack emissions from biomass power. This forms part of the UK’s world-leading sustainability criteria, which is a prerequisite to receiving any UK government support for using biomass feedstocks.  

” The current accounting regime has been endorsed by the UK’s independent Climate Change Committee,  who within their sixth carbon budget advice demonstrate that sustainable biomass use continues to have an important role to play in decarbonising the UK energy system in line with net-zero emissions ambitions.  In addition, within the Energy White Paper last year, the UK Government has committed to the development of a new Biomass Strategy for the UK, focusing on ensuring the best use of biomass for decarbonisation. It is important that all stakeholders are engaged in this process to ensure issues such as carbon accounting are examined from a position of fact and mutual understanding, rather than making accusations of ‘creative’ accounting that have been proven to be incorrect. ”

—ENDS—

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Jack Abbott, PR and Communications Manager,

07590 627739/ [email protected]

About the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA)
The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (known as the REA) is the UK’s largest trade association for renewable energy and clean technologies with around 550 members operating across heat, transport, power and the Circular Economy. The REA is a not-for-profit organisation representing fourteen sectors, ranging from biogas and renewable fuels to solar and electric vehicle charging. Membership ranges from major multinationals to sole traders.

For more information, visit: www.r-e-a.net