Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 26
26
Deferred
Paragraph: 134
Large-scale biomass subsidies have not provided value for money or optimal public funds use.
Conclusion
The UK’s biomass industry is a diverse sector made up of large-scale power plants through to smaller-scale, more local, generators. The overall costs of large-scale bioenergy power plants, which converted from coal-fired plants, are very expensive and rely heavily on imported feedstocks, which may not be produced sustainably, and which may have significant lifecycle emissions. Existing support schemes for unabated bioenergy are due to end by 2027. We do not believe that the historic allocation of subsidies to large scale biomass, such as Drax, has represented either value for money or the best use of public funds.
Government Response Summary
The government's response outlines its Action Plan for reforming the planning system for Nationally Significant Infrastructure and plans to publish a consultation document. This completely deflects from the committee's conclusion regarding the costs, sustainability, and value for money of the UK's biomass industry.
Paragraph Reference:
134
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
87. In February, the Government published its Action Plan for reforming the planning system for Nationally Significant Infrastructure. This recognises the resource, capacity and skills issues that face the system. The Action Plan was published by the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities and was co-signed by the Secretaries of State for Energy, for Transport and for the Environment. Decarbonisation of the energy system is a priority for the Government, as is the natural environment, food production and transport infrastructure. All of these areas will benefit from the additional resource that will be put into the planning system as a result of measures going the House in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. Government will shortly be publishing a consultation document on implementing the Action Plan.