The announcement that two UK Biomass projects which had been granted planning permission may not proceed to development, has today been cited as “bad for the British economy and a blow to energy security” by the Back Biomass campaign. 

 

The Back Biomass campaign is has stated its disappointment after Forth Energy said it was not continuing with renewable energy projects in Grangemouth and Rosyth and was investigating options to attract other developers for the projects.

 

REA Chief Executive Dr Nina Skorupska, on behalf of the Back Biomass campaign, said:

 

“This is one more sign that the UK is on course to miss this opportunity to get the most from an energy source which can provide significant quantities of affordable, secure, clean renewable energy”.

 

“That two projects which have secured planning consent may now not be taken forward shows that there is a real need for investors to be shown that there is a long-term future for Biomass developments in the UK, as part of a secure and affordable transition to a low-carbon economy”. 

 

“The Government’s own Bioenergy Strategy estimates the cost of decarbonising the economy without biomass is an extra £44 billion. The UK urgently needs biomass as a vital part of our energy mix to keep the lights on, keep consumer bills at an affordable level and drive down emissions”.

 

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

 

Jules Norton Selzer, Back Biomass Campaign

0203 047 2254

 

Notes to editor:

 

 

1. The Renewable Energy Association’s Back Biomass campaign is an industry led and government supported initiative launched in summer 2011 to urge the Government to ‘Back Biomass’ power as a crucial part of a secure, affordable, low carbon future for the UK. We believe that power and CHP from sustainable biomass offers proven, practical, secure low carbon energy as part of a balanced energy mix. For more information, please visit www.backbiomass.co.uk and follow us on Twitter @BackBiomass

 

1. The REA was established in 2001, as a not-for-profit trade association, to represent British renewable energy producers and promote the use of renewable energy in the UK. The REA endeavours to achieve the right regulatory framework for renewables to deliver an increasing contribution to the UK’s electricity, heat and transport needs. For more information, please visit www.r-e-a.net