Ambitious government targets to increase the security of energy supply, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will drive growth in the bioenergy, energy-from-waste, energy systems and bioproducts sectors over the next ten years. Bioenergy is a renewable and sustainable energy and it’s a rapidly growing market.
According to the Committee on Climate Change, bioenergy alone could provide up to 15% of UK energy demand in a low carbon economy by 2050. It is now the largest contributing renewable technology in the UK, providing 7.4% of primary energy supply.
1. Bioenergy is renewable and sustainable energy made from biological materials. These materials include:
- Plants such as corn, soya and sunflower (known as biocrops)
- Wood chippings (i.e. wood waste)
- Rice husks
- Commercial, municipal and industrial waste
- Manure and sewage.
2. Biological materials are referred to as biomass. Sometimes they are called biofuels but this term is more often used to describe liquid bioenergy fuels, such as biodiesel.
3. Bioenergy accounts for the majority of renewable energy produced globally.
4. There are some negative issues associated with growing biocrops for bioenergy which can be alleviated by using waste materials.
5. EBRI focuses on producing bioenergy from waste and residues. The production of bioenergy from waste is a well-established technology. The main process involved in turning waste into bioenergy is called pyrolysis.
- Reduces greenhouse gases
- Provides an outlet for waste recycling
- Reduces waste management costs
- Reduces landfill
- A truly green energy
- Reduces CO2 emissions
- Increases reliance on renewable energy
- A form of low carbon energy
- Bioenergy power stations do not require large buildings so can be built near/on housing or industrial estates and in city centres.