A focal point for the community to support ambitious scaling up of the bioenergy industry and scale of planting

Demonstration and knowledge-sharing hubs to showcase best practice and innovations in land-based biomass feedstock production

Robust, independent information on biomass feedstock performance, agronomy, economics and environmental benefits

British Renewable Energy Awards

Pioneer Winner 2023

Biomass Connect has been named the winner of the prestigious Pioneer Award at the British Renewable Energy Awards.

Building a UK wide, cohesive, regionally based community to develop and operate the platform

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We produce a newsletter and other regular communication to share relevant information and the Platform’s activities.

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RWAS Winter Fair

Location: Llanelwedd

Wondering how biomass crops could benefit your business? Visit the Biomass Connect stand for a friendly chat over refreshments. Explore cropping options, potential products, and the advantages biomass can bring, […]

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Boghall Demonstrator Hub Update – October 2024

At the Boghall Demonstration Hub, crops are progressing into senescence, reflecting seasonal changes. Some varieties exhibit striking orange hues as they senesce. Overall, the site reflects a mix of senescence stages and biodiversity, with hare activity being a minor issue.

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Presentation: Eddy Covariance

At our October Demo Event at Mysercough College, near Preston, experts from UKCEH and PBC4GGR provided live demonstrations of eddy covariance towers for monitoring carbon fluxes and led sessions on soil carbon testing and biodiversity monitoring.

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Biomass Connect: Biomass Innovation and Information Platform

Biomass is the organic material from living organisms. In the context of Biomass Connect, the term refers to non-food crops where the whole aboveground plant biomass is harvested and used for a range of purposes including heat and electricity, fuel for transport, platform chemicals, and a range of construction, packaging, and cosmetic applications. Biomass crops are fast-growing, with a high potential energy content or calorific value.

Biomass Connect is a demonstration and knowledge-sharing initiative to showcase best practice and innovations in land-based biomass feedstock production. We seek to share knowledge and experiences that can make a significant contribution to agricultural, environmental and bioenergy policy development, practical on-farm advances, and overall growth in the UK’s biomass sector. The project also compares crop/variety performance in regions across the UK and demonstrates innovations which have the potential to maximise their economic and environmental benefits.

Biomass Connect Showcase Event

showcase event

Harnessing Innovation, the Future of Biomass

It was fantastic to see so many of you at the Biomass Connect Showcase event! Thanks to everyone who came, contributed, and made it such a valuable experience.

The event showcased the latest innovations in biomass production and processing emerging from the Biomass Feedstocks Innovation Programme and included presentations and practical workshop sessions from a wide range of speakers from all areas of the biomass industry. The robot was of course a big hit too.

We’re currently going through all of the presentations, audio files, photos and videos from the event and hope to bring you as much of it as we can via the website over the coming weeks.

The full programme and list of speakers are available on the Showcase Event page, we’ll be adding to this with content from the event soon. Stay tuned for updates.

 

Eight demonstration hubs are located across the UK, in Ceredigion, South Ayrshire, Buckinghamshire, Devon, Edinburgh, County Down, Northumberland and Yorkshire.

Biomass Feedstocks Innovation

£32m of funding has enabled 12 organisations, including 7 small and medium-sized enterprises, to deliver commercially viable innovations in biomass production.

Crop information

Biomass crops vary greatly in size and form, ranging from towering 30-meter trees to fast-growing grasses. While they typically demand limited inputs and minimal cultivation, specific requirements vary among different crops, soil types, and climates (the impacts of different soils and regional climate variations is one reason we have our demonstrator hub sites distributed around the UK). Explore the Crop Information section of this website for comprehensive details on biomass crops featured in the Biomass Connect trials, as well as other promising candidates. 

What’s On

Check out our diary of events and demos.

25
Nov
Wondering how biomass crops could benefit your business? Visit the Biomass Connect stand for a friendly chat over refreshments. Explore cropping options, potential products, and the advantages biomass can bring, […]
28
Nov
Date: Thursday 28th November 2024 Time: 12:00 – 13:00 Location: Online The Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant enables the transition to a sustainable biobased economy by providing process development, scale-up […]
11
Dec
RSB ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2024 | 11 DECEMBER | CERN, GENEVA This year’s event will serve as a dynamic platform for fostering confidence in sustainable bioeconomy solutions, ensuring their long-term viability, […]
What's On
Demonstrator Hub Updates
November 21, 2024
Boghall Demonstrator Hub Update – October 2024
At the Boghall Demonstration Hub, crops are progressing into senescence, reflecting seasonal changes. Some varieties exhibit striking orange hues as they senesce. Overall, the site reflects a mix of senescence stages and biodiversity, with hare activity being a minor issue.
Read more
Demonstrator Hub Updates
November 21, 2024
Ayrshire Demonstrator Hub Update – October 2024
At the Auchincruive Demonstration Hub, crops have been showing natural seasonal transitions, with many entering senescence. Miscanthus giganteus remains thick and dense but is starting to brown from the bottom, while Miscanthus Athena™ has also begun senescing alongside the dying off of weeds. Eucalyptus trees remain robust and healthy, including recovery among previously droopy trees. Poplar and Willow exhibit varying stages of senescence, with some branches damaged by storm Ashley but no major structural issues. Alder is browning but holding onto its leaves, and Black Locust shows significant leaf drop. Birds have been observed among the Miscanthus and Willow, highlighting biodiversity benefits at the site.
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Demonstrator Hub Updates
November 20, 2024
Cockle Park Farm Demonstrator Hub Update – October 2024
At Cockle Park Farm, crops are progressing steadily. Overall health remains good, with no significant pest or disease issues reported. Maintenance activities, including regular fence monitoring and grass cutting, ensure a controlled environment for crop growth.
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Demonstrator Hub Updates
November 20, 2024
North Wyke Demonstrator Hub Update – October 2024
Crops at the North Wyke Biomass Connect Demonstration Hub have shown mixed performance through October.
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