Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate her Department has made of the total subsidy paid for biomass production for the purposes of power generation in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

The previous government supported the Energy Crop Scheme which provided a five year subsidy support for farmers and landowners producing biomass for electricity and heat production. This scheme, which provided support for planting and developing new energy crops, closed on 31^st August 2013 to new applicants but continues to support those still in the scheme. The payments in the last five years were estimated by Natural England to be:

• 2010 – £425,942
• 2011 – £594,698
• 2012 – £1,320,813
• 2013 – £427,198
• 2014 – £330,438

Natural England, who run the scheme, estimate that 80% of the energy crops planted under the scheme will eventually be harvested for power generation, the remainder being for heat generation.