Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Deferred
Paragraph: 137
Publish biomass strategy detailing demand assessment, domestic feedstock reliance, and supply scaling timeframe.
Recommendation
The Government was due to publish a biomass strategy last year, setting out the role of biomass in helping to achieve the Government’s net zero target, including whether biomass would be best used to generate electricity or for other purposes The Government should publish its biomass strategy without delay and set out: a) the Government’s assessment of future demand for biomass feedstocks in the UK and globally; b) the extent to which the UK can rely on domestic biomass feedstocks to meet future demand and mechanisms to support domestic biomass supply; and c) the timeframe for scaling up the supply of domestic biomass feedstocks.
Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on accelerating new electricity network infrastructure and grid connections, including the work of the Network Commissioner and Ofgem's efforts, completely ignoring the recommendation to publish the biomass strategy.
Paragraph Reference:
137
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
93. Both Ofgem and the Government recognise that a transformation of the electricity networks is needed, at significant scale and pace, to support power sector decarbonisation and accommodate the shift to renewable generation at the same time as increasing demand through electrification of transport, heat and other sectors. 94. The Government is committed to accelerating the build of new network infrastructure and speeding up grid connections. Nick Winser, the Network Commissioner will advise Decarbonisation of the power sector: Government Response 19 in June on how to accelerate transmission infrastructure and alongside Ofgem, the Government will publish a connections action plan in the summer. The Government supports Ofgem’s work to enable anticipatory investment in the network, for example enabling nearly £20bn of investment in the transmission network through their Accelerating Strategic Transmission Investment Framework. Ofgem is also enabling more strategic investment at distribution network level, and has included £3.1bn for lower voltage networks to be upgraded to enable low-carbon technologies to join the grid. 95. Ofgem published a consultation into future systems and network regulation (FSNR) in March 2023, where it set out options to update network regulation in order to support 2050 energy transition goals. The Government supports Ofgem’s work in the FSNR to develop a price control framework that has sufficient anticipatory investment to drive the energy transition while protecting consumers from unnecessary costs.