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19.09.2006
'Britain lagging on bioenergy use'
Britain is falling behind other countries in the use of organic energy sources, an influential committee of MPs has warned.The Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee urged the Government to promote greater use of "bioenergy" to help reduce carbon emissions.It criticised the lack of emphasis on heat derived from biomass - plant or animal materials such as timber crops, straw or other waste. But it also called on the Government to provide more support for the next generation of renewable transport fuels, or biofuels.The committee argued that the Government concentrated too heavily on biofuels at the expense of research into renewable heat. It said it was "deeply disappointed" that biomass heat had not been properly addressed in the recent Energy Review.In relation to biofuels, the committee said that more advanced versions would deliver greater carbon savings for the future and exploit a wider range of biomass. Immediate steps should be taken to support the production of synthetic kerosene - a "green" fuel for aircraft - from biomass, it said.Biofuel technology should also be utilised for road transport, the committee added in its report, Climate change: the role of bioenergy.It complained that Government incentives in these areas were "disjointed" and "piecemeal", while greater co-operation between departments was necessary.
There ought to be a Cabinet-level minister with sole responsibility for climate change policy across the Government, the committee said.
Committee chairman Michael Jack said: "With prizes like a green aviation fuel, 10% of our road fuels produced from renewable sources and the production of 1% of the nation's heat demand from waste wood, the Government has got to show a much greater commitment, coherence and enthusiasm in the way it develops it bioenergy policies."For a nation that prides itself on its international leadership role on the climate change agenda, it's not acceptable for Britain to lag behind so many other countries in the way that it is embracing bioenergy."
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