U.K. DECC annual energy statement addresses bioenergy

U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey recently delivered his annual energy statement to Parliament. As part of the statement, Davey said that record investments of £45 billion ($70.99 billion) in electricity generation and networks since 2010 have put the nation on target to meet its future low carbon requirements. He said that the average annual investment in renewable electricity has more than doubled under the current Parliament, with 2013 being a record year for investments in renewables. The renewables investment includes £6.3 billion specifically invested in biomass and bioenergy since 2010. During the first quarter of this year, 19 percent of electricity was generated by renewable resources, Davey added.

A report that accompanied the statement indicates the U.K. is expected to invest an additional £5.0 billion to £5.9 billion in biomass energy projects through 2020, supporting up to 14,700 jobs. Biomass accounted for 4.3 GW of installed capacity as of the close of the second quarter of this year, with 0.8 GW of additional capacity currently under construction. An additional 3.8 GW of capacity is currently proposed and awaiting construction, with 0.5 GW in the planning phase.

By 2020, the report predicts biomass could provide the equivalent of 10 percent of the nation’s current power supply, which is enough to power approximately 8 million homes. Anaerobic digestion provided 707 GWh of electricity to the U.K. grid last year, a 208 GWh increase from 2012. Overall, biomass and waste accounted for 4 percent of inland energy consumption in the U.K. during 2013.

Additional information on the statement and report is available on the DECC website.