Bioenergy
Bioenergy is generated from organic matter. This comes either directly from plants (either crops grown for the purpose of producing energy, or from crops grown for a number of uses), or indirectly from industrial, commercial, domestic or agricultural products.
In the UK, bioenergy occurs mainly in the form of landfill and sewage gas, transport biofuels and the mixing of biomass with coal in coal-fired power stations. In 2006, this accounted for 82% of renewable energy sources in the UK.
A large amount of research and development is being undertaken on the production of advanced fuels for transport, using a variety of unconventional organisms, such as marine algae, and techniques, such as organic breakdown by enzymes.
In line with global, EU and UK energy policy development, the use of bioenergy is set to increase massively over the next decade. Bioenergy is a global industry, and many countries have recently put in place policies to increase their bioenergy consumption.
Biofuels
Biofuels are derived from crop plants such as wheat, oilseed rape and sugarcane, grown specifically for the production of bioethanol and biodiesel. These products are then typically blended with conventional fuels.
Globally, there is an increasing drive towards increasing energy security and, in particular, the potential for biofuel production for transport. The extent to which biofuel production can mitigate climate change and the potential impact on the natural environment are dependent on the nature of the biofuel and where it is grown.
The wide range of greenhouse gas savings from biofuels (between 7 and 77%) emphasises the need to maximise greenhouse gas reductions while minimising other environmental impacts, and so deliver meaningful gains for the natural environment.
The adoption of biofuels by the UK transport sector is being driven by the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation. This directive has one of the more robust environmental standards and reporting systems in the world. However, because of the global nature of the biofuels industry, the EU is proposing far less stringent sustainability criteria in order to enable trade between countries. This is an area that Natural England will continue to be involved in.
The European Commission has proposed that 10% of transport fuel should come from renewable sources by 2020. Like other renewable energy sources, though, if this industry grows without stringent environmental regulation it could have significant adverse impacts on the natural environment.
Biomass and biogas
Biomass, such as the grass Miscanthus and willow trees, can be converted into electricity or heat by a number of techniques, such as burning or fermentation. Biogas can be produced from the digestion of most organic materials, including manure and slurry, or food waste, and then converted into electricity, heat or used as a transport fuel.
Energy Crops Scheme
In the UK, Natural England manages the Energy Crops Scheme for electricity and heat generation. We undertake stringent environmental assessments of each application and maintain high environmental standards during the set-up and growing stages.
