Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that sustainable biomass energy generation does not lead to deforestation.

In order to receive support, biomass electricity generators are required to comply with the UK’s strict sustainability criteria, which ensure that only sustainable biomass is used by the generators.

Where woody biomass is sourced from forests, to receive support, the forests must be managed in accordance with sustainable management practices that require the maintenance and replanting of the forest, demonstration that deforestation is not occurring, and that biodiversity, soil and water are protected, among other requirements.

The forthcoming Biomass Strategy will set out recommendations for further enhancing the UK’s stringent biomass sustainability criteria.