Government has 'no evidence' biomass is not destroying forests, says new report
The National Audit Office (NAO) has found that the Government cannot prove that biomass fuel is sustainably sourced.
The report also stated that the assurance schemes in place are not up to scratch. Ministers and advisers at the Climate Change Committee (CCC) believe that biomass is a low-carbon energy source if 70% of it meets strict sustainability criteria. Generators, including the UK's largest, Drax, must provide details about where the wood used for burning comes from and how the forest is managed.
Each year, they must submit an independently audited report, which is reviewed by regulator Ofgem. This is to ensure that the wood has not contributed to further deforestation and nature destruction. However, scientists and campaigners argue that this is happening regardless.
A BBC Panorama investigation last year discovered that biomass production was impacting ancient forests in Canada. In response to the NAO's findings, the Government did not address concerns about potentially destructive practices going unnoticed.
Instead, it celebrated the NAO finding no evidence of firms not complying, despite this not being the report's purpose. In 2021, the UK imported 9.1 million tonnes of wood pellets for energy.
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The NAO reported that 60% came from the US, 18% from the EU, and 16% from Canada. Data from the following year reveals that biomass made up 11% of total electricity generation, a significant increase from 3% in 2010.
The Government has backed the industry with a whopping £22 billion and is mulling over further support for Drax beyond the current subsidy scheme deadline in 2027. Drax and the Government argue that biomass production can be "carbon negative".
They say this could help balance out emissions from sectors without any low-carbon alternative such as aviation. However, some scientists have raised doubts about the feasibility of this technology. Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: "If biomass is going to play a key role in the transition to net zero, the Government needs to be confident that the industry is meeting high sustainability standards."
He added: "Government must review the assurance arrangements for these schemes, including ensuring that it has provided adequate resources to give it assurance over the billions of pounds involved." The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is considering raising the requirement from sustainable sources to 100%.
Auditors have suggested that the Government should consider the risks of non-compliance and provide more resources towards monitoring for any breaches. The National Audit Office (NAO) has also recommended a review of how the Government ensures that wood is sustainably sourced.
The current method combines information provided by biomass energy generators, third-party certification schemes, and limited-assurance audit reports. A spokesperson for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DESNZ) welcomed the NAO's report, stating: "We welcome the NAO's report, which found no evidence of firms not complying with our stringent sustainability criteria, which are in line with internationally recognised standards."
The spokesperson added: "As set out in the Biomass Strategy, we will be consulting later this year on how we can go further than our peers." They also highlighted the importance of biomass in the UK's energy supply, saying: "Biomass will provide a key role in a more secure, clean energy sector. It delivered around 9% of the UK's total energy supply in 2022, with generators only legally receiving subsidies if they prove they have complied with our strict rules."
The spokesperson concluded by referencing the Climate Change Committee's acknowledgement of the role of bioenergy in achieving net zero emissions: "The Climate Change Committee has acknowledged that achieving net zero is dependent on solutions like bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, which will help offset emissions from other industries."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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