Sep 02, 2026

The Renewable Energy Association is disappointed by the decision not to introduce a successor scheme to the Renewables Obligation for biomass power. While we recognise that Government has considered some of the wider benefits of these plants, we are concerned that the decision does not adequately reflect the role many play in the circular economy and in providing essential waste-management capacity.
Many biomass plants use waste wood and agricultural residues such as poultry litter, providing low-carbon, reliable energy while dealing with materials for which alternative disposal routes can be costly for farmers, businesses and local authorities. The UK’s regional biomass fleet provides around 4.6 million tonnes of waste processing capacity and generates around 5.4TWh of low-carbon energy each year, with more than 2.7 million tonnes of waste wood diverted from landfill or overseas export annually.
Assessing these assets primarily through the lens of energy supply volume is short-sighted. We cannot continue to manage the energy transition in silos; future policy needs to take a whole-system view and recognise the wider benefits biomass provides across energy, waste management, the circular economy and energy security.