Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 8
8
DESNZ sets sustainability criteria for biomass, but Ofgem does not always require direct evidence.
Conclusion
DESNZ has set two criteria—for land use and with respect to greenhouse gases—for all the schemes that support the use of biomass which require biomass users to demonstrate that the fuel they burn comes from sustainable sources.9 Ofgem administers, on behalf of DESNZ, most of the schemes that provide financial support for biomass in power and heating, including registering participants on to schemes and monitoring compliance with sustainability and other scheme criteria.10 Generators with a capacity of more than 1 megawatt are required to submit monthly data on sustainability to Ofgem. The generator is not required to share with Ofgem evidence to support its monthly submission (but must hold this evidence). Compliance with one of the criteria—land use—can be shown through a recognised certification scheme.11