Wind Energy Planning

A report carried out for the UK Environment Agency last month recommends further interrogation of greenhouse gas emissions created from the use of biomass to generate electricity.

The research carried out by AEA found that although green house gas emissions from energy generated using biomass crops is generally less than from fossil fuels, this is not always the case. Burning straw for example can produce over 35% more than a combined cycle gas turbine power station.

The report says that transporting fuels over long distances can reduce emissions savings made by the same biomass fuel by between 15 and 50%. Changing land use from fallow land to biomass crop growing land can also have a negative effect.

The report urges best practice for biomass crop producers and users. Power stations should be designed to utilise the heat from the outset and more Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) should be offered for combined heat and power and heat only biomass plants.

Mandatory reporting on greenhouse gas emissions by generators should be required say the Environment Agency and a review of energy conversion efficiency in biomass heat and power generation should be carried out. The recommendation to carry out further research to understand which technologies will deliver the greatest emissions savings, suggest that the use of biomass will remain a hot topic over the next few years. Real examples of responsible fuel sourcing and emission saving power plants will be needed to persuade the world that it can contribute to a healthy and sustainable energy mix.