Biofuels: Carbon Emissions

(asked on 31st March 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the real change in emissions resulting from the burning of biomass in the manufacturing and construction sectors between 2010 and 2020; what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in the burning of biomass between 2010 and 2020; and what steps he has taken to tackle that matter.


Answered by
Jo Churchill Portrait
Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 26th April 2022

The National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) includes estimates of pollutant emissions from the combustion of biomass in manufacturing and construction sectors. For fine particulate matter, estimated emissions from this source have risen from 1.9 kilotons in 2010 to 11.6 kilotons in 2020. For oxides of nitrogen, estimated emissions have risen from 3.5 kilotons in 2010 to 9.8 kilotons in 2020. These estimates include all emissions occurring from the burning of biomass to generate energy for industrial use. Estimates on emissions of other pollutants are also available in the NAEI.

These increases are largely a result of the increased role for biomass as part of the transition from fossil fuels to low carbon and renewable energy generation.

All Large Combustion Plant burning biomass must comply with strict emission limits (including for particulate matter) and cannot operate unless issued with a permit by the Environment Agency. The implementation of the 2018 regulations on Medium Combustion Plant (MCP) ensures permits and emission limits will also be in place for all biomass combustion plant with a thermal input between 1 and 50 megawatts.

Defra is considering setting tighter emissions standards for Medium Combustion Plant, and working with Innovate UK to stimulate research into technical solutions for particulate abatement from smaller scale combustion plant.

The Government will publish a Biomass Strategy in 2022 that will set out how biomass can best contribute towards net zero across the economy, while protecting air quality and human health.

Reticulating Splines