Is the UK missing a trick?

Biomass can make a vital contribution to combating climate change, yet the UK currently lags behind the rest of Europe in using this valuable form of renewable energy. In his keynote speech at Biomass:Red herring or Red Hot? a one day conference being held at BRE on September 15^th, Sir Ben Gill, will explain why he thinks biomass has failed to make its mark in the UK and look at ways of breaking down the barriers.

Organised jointly by BRE and the Solar Energy Society, the conference will provide an overview of the community-based heat and electricity market and discuss the important issues of fuel production, distribution and trading, building integrated systems and overall cost effectiveness.

For full details, go to http://www.resource05.co.uk/day3b.jsp

The writing is on the wall

In Finland biomass supplies 20% of the country’s total energy needs and in Sweden 15%. Here in the UK, biomass provides less than 1% of our electricity. The difference is largely due to the fact that the UK has enjoyed cheap indigenous fossil fuel supplies and not needed to consider alternatives. The scene is changing however, and changing fast. We have recently become a net importer of gas, regulations setting 10% renewables targets are on the horizon and the price of oil is rising.

Opening up the market

Large scale biomass projects in the UK concentrate almost exclusively on supplying the electricity market. However it is equally important to support the heat market as around 50% of energy demand relates to heat and hot water used in buildings. Government support through the Community Energy programme and the Clear Skies programme (domestic and community projects) has assisted the emergence of such schemes, but high capital cost and lack of awareness amongst planners/end users remain significant barriers.

Who should attend?

Biomass: Red herring or Red Hot? will appeal to anyone interested in sustainable energy

• Developers
• Planners
• Architects
• Building services engineers
• Building owners and tenants
• Energy managers and facilities managers
• Local authorities
• Housing associations
• Fuel producers
• Manufacturers, suppliers and installers