The Wood Recyclers’ Association (WRA) has today (January 18) responded to the launch of a government consultation on potential transitional support for large-scale biomass plants.
Richard Coulson, Chair of the WRA, said: “We welcome government plans to provide transitional support for biomass operators in their planned move to carbon capture and storage (CCS).
“However, we are dismayed that once again waste wood-powered biomass plants have been excluded from the support proposed in today’s consultation.
“Under the proposals, only very large-scale plants over 100MW – larger than all UK waste wood-powered plants – would be able to access support, in line with the Power BECCS business model.
“The proposed criteria are especially disappointing, given that Energy Minister Graham Stuart wrote to us in November saying that the Government recognises the importance of waste wood-powered biomass and is considering transitional support for the sector.
“While we welcome proposed support for some operators to develop CCS under the Greenhouse Gas Removals business model, announced in December, transitional support is also required for these facilities post ROCs and for facilities which are not able to retrofit CCS.
“We need clarity as a matter of urgency over future support for our sector, given that current ROCs support for biomass plant operators starts to end from 2027.
“Our sector not only delivers low carbon, baseload power, but also provides an important environmental service by making the best use of end-of-life waste wood.
“We urgently call on the government to engage with our sector or risk losing all the benefits we provide and a critical tool in meeting carbon reductions targets.”