Source · National Audit Office

The government’s support for biomass

Published: 24 Jan 2024 Recommendations: 4 Type: Value for Money NAO confirmed: 4 Department: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Government has provided over £20 billion of support to biomass businesses but it can’t yet demonstrate adherence to its sustainability rules.

Dept: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Topics: Climate change and net zeroEnergy and environmentEnergy infrastructure nao.org.uk →

Recommendations

4 items

4 accepted 1 implemented 3 in progress

Rec	Recommendation	Addressee	Acceptance	Implementation
1	In taking forward its Biomass Strategy, DESNZ should: as part of its commitment to consider whether a requirement that 100% of woody biomass is sustainable against its land criteria, define its risk appetite for non-compliance against this increased threshold and ensure a commensurate assurance approach Ref Page 11, 18a · Implemented Q2 2025	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero	Accepted	In progress ✓ NAO
2	In taking forward its Biomass Strategy, DESNZ should: evaluate whether its current arrangements provide adequate assurance that generators are complying with sustainability criteria on the Renewables Obligation and Contracts for Difference schemes. This should include a detailed review of accreditation schemes such as the Sustainable Biomass Program, an estimate of the current rates of non-compliance, and an assessment of whether all parts of the system of oversight share a coherent view of the level assurance achieved. Ref Page 11, 18b · Implemented Q2 2026	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero	Accepted	In progress ✓ NAO
3	In taking forward its Biomass Strategy, DESNZ should: commission and then publish an assessment of the potential environmental impact of transitional support to large scale biomass generation beyond 2027, including clarification of how long it expects these subsidies to continue prior to being replaced by government support for BECCS Ref Page 11, 18c · Implemented Awaiting opportunity	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero	Accepted	In progress ✓ NAO
4	In taking forward its Biomass Strategy, DESNZ should: review annually its expectation of the contribution that BECCS will make to generating negative emissions and prepare in advance alternative options for achieving net zero in the event that BECCS?s contribution is lower than currently expected. Ref Page 11, 18d	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO

Public Accounts Committee follow-up

1 report

The Public Accounts Committee examined this NAO report and published its own recommendations. The government responds to PAC recommendations via Treasury Minutes.

25 Apr 2025 Public Accounts C… 22nd Report - Government’s support for biomass — 20 recommendations · parliament.uk