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Government support for biomass

Status: Closed Opened: 4 Feb 2025 Closed: 16 Jun 2025 2 recommendations 23 conclusions 1 report

Over £20bn in support for businesses and households using biomass (such as plants or food waste) for fuel has been provided by Government since 2002. In combination with carbon capture, usage and storage , the Government is relying on the use of biomass to make a significant contribution to reaching its legally-mandated target of reaching …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
22nd Report - Government’s support for biomass HC 715 25 Apr 2025 25 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
2 Recommendation 22nd Report - Government’s support for … Deferred

Estimate cost and test effectiveness of monitoring increased biomass sustainability and Drax's sourcing.

DESNZ has not made clear how its plans to strengthen the sustainability rules might work in practice. In its Biomass Strategy, published in August 2023, DESNZ committed to develop and consult on a common sustainability framework which could be applied to new future biomass policies and schemes across different sectors …

Government response. The government states that providing the KPMG report (requested in point c) is not its responsibility, as the reports belong to Drax and it is up to Drax to release them. The response does not address points 'a' or 'b' …
HM Treasury
13 Conclusion 22nd Report - Government’s support for … Deferred

Ofgem investigation found Drax misreported data due to poor governance, resulting in redress.

In August 2024, Ofgem published the outcome of its investigation into Drax.30 It told us that it had reviewed over 3,000 documents as part of its investigation.31 It also reviewed a report by KPMG, commissioned by Drax, which looked at its Canadian supply chain processes and reporting practices, from the …

Government response. The government states that this is not a matter for the government to consider, and it is for Drax to decide whether they wish to release the KPMG reports, adding that Ofgem has already published significant detail.
HM Treasury
23 Conclusion 22nd Report - Government’s support for … Deferred

BECCS considered essential for UK decarbonisation, despite reduced projected role by 2050.

Combining power generation using sustainably sourced biomass with carbon capture and storage (CCUS) has the potential to generate ‘negative emissions’–i.e. it could reduce the overall amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.65 Both the government and the Climate Change Committee (CCC), which advises the government on how best to achieve its …

Government response. The government agrees that BECCS is important and states that a forthcoming report, compliant with a High Court Order and the Climate Change Act 2008, will address policies and proposals to meet carbon budgets. They have also commissioned an Independent …
HM Treasury
24 Conclusion 22nd Report - Government’s support for … Deferred

Initial BECCS plant target of 2030 will not be met, future support unclear.

The government had initially planned for BECCS plant to begin operating at scale in 2030 as part of its broader CCUS programme.68 However, as the first phase of the CCUS programme (known as Track 1) does not include a BECCS plant, this target date will not how be achieved.69 DESNZ …

Government response. The government acknowledges the lack of a revised target date for BECCS and states that a forthcoming report, compliant with a High Court Order and the Climate Change Act 2008, will address policies and proposals to meet carbon budgets. They …
HM Treasury

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
3 Mar 2025 Ashley Ibbett · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Dr Sarah Redwood OBE · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Jeremy Pocklington · Ministry of Defence, Jonathan Brearley · Ofgem, Jonathan Brearley · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Kiera Schoenemann · Ofgem View ↗

Correspondence

5 letters
DateDirectionTitle
15 Dec 2025 To cttee Letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Energy Security and N…
15 Dec 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Energy S…
15 Dec 2025 To cttee Letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Energy Security and N…
27 Mar 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chief Sustainability Officer at Drax relating to providing help…
27 Mar 2025 To cttee Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Energy Security and N…