What are the current developments?
The UK government is currently reviewing the future of UK energy supplies to explore the options for meeting their commitments and securing our energy future. It seems likely that a mixed portfolio of renewables, including biomass will be a key feature of future energy supplies. The UK government is also re-examing the case for nuclear power, although Scottish Ministers have rejected the further nuclear development in Scotland. The Energy Review also considers that fossil-fuelled generation will continue to be a core part of future energy policy in the foreseeable future.
Another shift in energy supply may be a more distributed energy generation system, with smaller local generation plants linked to a wider grid than the large centralised power stations we have at present. This is particularly suitable for woodfuelled heat and power plants which can be sited close to the available resource.
The UK government and the Scottish Executive have published a number of documents over recent years examining various aspects of energy generation and biomass policy. In January 2005, the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS) report to the Scottish Executive on Promoting and Accelerating the Market Penetration of Biomass Technology in Scotland highlighted key issues affecting the uptake of biomass including fuel supply, regulatory, infrastructure and funding. Most recently UK government published the Biomass Task Force report which produced 42 recommendations and proposals for improving biomass uptake. Crucially it recommended that capital support for biomass installations would be the most effective way to encourage biomass use. Both reports acknowledge the importance of including heat as part of energy policy.
The importance of renewable heat has also now been recognised, as this make up more than 50% of Scotland's energy demand. The FREDS Renewable Heat Sub-Group published a report in February 2008, which makes recommendations to the Scottish Government on developing a renewable heat market.
The growth in renewable energy has led to increase pressure on biomass supplies and the recent Wood Fuel Task Force report provides best estimates of currently available material. The report also contains a series of recommendation to Government to build and strenthen the biomass supply chain.