Policy Hub
25 October 2005 the Biomass Task Force published a report which concludes that biomass (fuel from forestry, crops and waste) could reduce the nation's carbon emissions by almost three million tonnes a year if used to provide heating. The carbon saving would be the equivalent of taking 3.25 million cars off the road.
The Task Force makes 42 recommendations, including a call for the introduction of capital grants to fund more biomass heating boilers and says that public buildings can be the ideal place to begin the expansion.
The report also gives examples of where biomass boilers are already operating successfully, including at Defra's Worcester offices and at a new Cheshire school which has cut its energy consumption by more than 75 per cent.
The Task Force concludes that one of the biggest barriers to progress is ignorance and recommends that the Government acts in the next 6 months to create a single information point on biomass for the country as a whole as well as delivering on its promise in the 2003 Energy White Paper to lead by example in its own building stock.
The full report can be viewed on the DEFRA website.