Draft bioenergy policy statement: consultation analysis

Appendix D: Priority uses of bioenergy

High level priority uses for bioenergy:

• In the short term there will continue to be demand for biomass to be used in power, heat and transport. Where possible, we support early adoption of Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) paired with bioenergy applications.
• In the medium term, most bioenergy should begin to transition away from unabated uses of biomass where possible, to uses such as BECCS, which are critical to meeting net zero.
• In the longer term BECCS will be the priority role and could make significant contribution towards net zero. There will be limited use in some hard to decarbonise sectors that cannot deploy BECCS.

Sectoral uses – short to medium term (out to 2035):

We see the current sectoral uses for bioenergy from now until the mid-2030s as:

Power – Existing biomass power and biomass / biogas Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants. New biogas CHP plants which utilise waste resources.

Heat – Biomethane injection to the gas grid, local district heating schemes or for emergency back-up systems using biogenic feedstock. Biomass or biofuels may be the only solution for existing properties that are currently not suitable for clean heating systems.

Transport – Biofuels for Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDV) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV), maritime or agricultural vehicles. Use of biomass for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production and use of biofuels for rail transport where electrification of lines is not currently possible.

Industry – Distilleries and breweries, pulp and paper mill, wood panel and pellet production, fuel switching from fossil fuels with potential for linking to future CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) infrastructure.

Wherever possible we expect locally available resources to be used to meet the demands of the area. We would expect early movers from across the applications listed above to deploy carbon capture technology during the short to medium term, out to 2035.

Sectoral uses - longer term (beyond 2035):

The longer term (post-2035) use of bioenergy should prioritise BECCS applications where possible, and the majority of biomass uses should deliver negative emissions, but specific timing and detail will depend on how technologies develop.

Power – Electricity generation and hydrogen production. Both technologies having been identified as having potential for being used with carbon capture and with recoverable heat being used - for example offsite in district heating schemes.

Heat – Limited use in district heating and potentially biomass / biofuel heating systems in existing homes where no other clean heating solutions are suitable.

Transport – Resources directed towards aviation and synthetic fuel production with CCS.

Industry – Use of BECCS within distilleries and breweries, pulp and paper mill, wood panel and pellet production and the cement industry.