Biomass Connect Project Lead Jeanette Whitaker recently sat down for an exclusive interview with Energy Now. With 25 years of experience at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)) she was asked numerous questions about biomass crops and the role they can play in the UK’s net zero ambitions.

A recent government report on UK bioenergy crops (covering 2008 to 2023) provides detailed insight into trends and developments in this sector. Key findings indicate that in 2023 the UK grew 133,000 hectares (equivalent to 2.2% UK arable land) of crops used for bioenergy.

The Renewable Energy Association (REA) has unveiled a new air quality leaflet developed by the Wood Heat Forum. This initiative addresses concerns about emissions from biomass boilers, highlighting their role in decarbonising the heat sector while maintaining low emissions.

The second edition of the State of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) report has been released, highlighting the current progress and future needs for CDR to meet the Paris Agreement's temperature goals. The report is a global assessment of the state of CDR and the gap we need to close.

The Supergen Bioenergy Hub has launched its first flexible funding call aimed at advancing research in the conversion of biomass to bio-based products. This initiative seeks to support innovative projects that can contribute significantly to the development and commercialisation of sustainable bioenergy solutions.

In a bid to advance sustainable energy practices, the Scottish Government has unveiled a draft policy statement on bioenergy, inviting public input to shape future strategies.

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) workshop, organised by the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), convened various stakeholders from industry, government bodies, DOE national laboratories, academia, and more. Its focus was on devising a research strategy for cultivating purpose-grown biomass energy crops at a large scale to supply feedstocks for biofuels and bioproducts.

The Perennial Biomass Crops for Greenhouse Gas Removal (PBC4GGR) project is offering proof of concept grants for projects up to 9 months in duration, and with a total value not exceeding £50,000. Projects should address key knowledge gaps in perennial biomass crops.

A recent Supergen Bioenergy Hub Stakeholder workshop focussing on novel crop species suitable for industrial-scale production of biomass in the UK has identified the most promising novel biomass crops for near-term deployment in the UK...