UK Biomass Strategy considers sector’s off-grid heat potential
Doc identifies possible role for biomass and biofuels as a source of lower carbon heat in particular off-grid houses a lot less suited for heat pumps – if offer and air high quality challenges can be dealt with
The Uk govt has posted its new Biomass System.
The doc sets out the opportunity purpose for biofuels and biomass as the region aims to meet up with its 2050 web zero emissions target and appears to be like at their programs for their use to give very low-carbon electricity throughout a array of sectors, which include heat, transport, and electricity.
It also sets out a range of problems that require to be dealt with in order to scale up the use of biomass in a sustainable way. This would include looking at the enhancement of carbon capture systems as a implies to offset the environmental impacts in which biomass and biofuels simply cannot be decarbonised fully.
The report performs up the great importance of establishing bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) remedies to lower greenhouse gas emissions generated from biomass.
BECCS captures the carbon dioxide introduced when biomass is burned and stores it underground. The biomass strategy recognises that this system can assist to lower greenhouse gas emissions from biomass by up to 90 for every cent.
Biomass can also be applied instantly as a feedstock for reduced carbon hydrogen by means of reformation, gasification, or pyrolysis systems, and if carbon capture and storage is extra this can provide adverse emissions.
Another challenge recognized in the conclusions is the scaling up of domestic biomass source with out compromising foods stability.
From the viewpoint of warmth, the system observed that the use of biomass for warmth era experienced greater in current several years as component of a broader shift to employing possibilities to right use fossil fuels such as natural fuel or oil. The vast majority of warmth manufactured from biomass methods in 2022 was generated from wood, squander wooden and plant biomass. This accounted for 89 per cent of warmth created that yr.
Heat pumps have been identified in the technique as currently being a vital engineering to decarbonise homes via the electrification of heating demand. This conclusion mirrors the tips of the UK’s Heat and Buildings Method that was released in 2021 and essential policy released by devolved governments.
Nevertheless, the strategy observed that there was possible to use biomass in some variety for heating homes that were more durable to decarbonise.
It said: “Biomass will likely have a position in heating in sure houses these types of as off-gas grid residences that are not easily acceptable for heat pumps, and the place appropriate mitigations can be set in location to minimise air high-quality impacts. The governing administration is considering a array of solutions to decarbonise these sorts of properties.”
A different vital application for biomass use discussed in the technique for industrial procedures these as substantial temperature heating. The doc mentioned that industrial use of biomass must be prioritised alongside utilizing carbon seize and storage solutions this sort of as BECCS. It additional: “In the absence of feasible BECCS infrastructure, we will carry on to assistance biomass use in marketplace wherever limited lower carbon alternate options are accessible.”
HVO and biofuels
The system also features steps to assistance the advancement of Renewable Liquid Gases (RLGs), which are viewed as a prospective small-carbon heating choice for off-grid residences.
Proponents of liquid fuel solutions argue that they are rather easy to retail outlet and transportation, even though offering a extra convenient option for changing existing systems that could possibly operate on oil products and solutions these types of as kerosene.
The liquid fuels sector has been self-funding trials of renewable liquid fuels such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and bio-liquified petroleum gas (bioLPG) as a implies of replacing kerosene boilers in off-grid properties.
Nevertheless, the biomass method said it was not clear at existing what volume of feedstocks would be available to produce these fuels.
The document mentioned: “We count on them to be restricted in source and in higher demand from customers from other sectors like transport. Nevertheless, we have been operating with representatives of the heating oil field, and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) sector, to get started making the proof on the possible to scale up manufacturing of renewable liquid fuels this kind of as HVO and bioLPG, respectively, steady with pretty minimal ranges of carbon emissions for use in warmth.”
HVO was determined in the approach as a perhaps easy route to decarbonise heat in some off-grid properties that would only require to make small modifications to present boilers.
The document stated: “However, HVO is not currently available to heat consumers on a industrial basis, and the government understands that the recent price tag of heating a residence with HVO would be drastically much more high-priced than the cost of heating a home with kerosene.”
The inclusion of answers these types of as HVO in the Biomass Technique was praised by some market bodies that have been pushing the opportunity of these fuels to heat residences.
George Webb, chief executive of the Liquid Gasoline British isles trade team, welcomed some of the conclusions in the approach about using biomass together with systems such as heat pumps as section of a combined technological know-how technique for off-grid properties.
He stated: “Liquid gases are a thoroughly clean, successful and affordable renewable gasoline that can play a major job in decarbonising the UK’s energy sector. We are presently seeing potent need for liquid gases from businesses and homeowners throughout the British isles, and this final decision will only enable to accelerate the expansion of this current market.”
Mr Webb claimed there was important recognition in the doc that liquid gasoline can be employed to assist the UK’s internet zero changeover.
He also named on the governing administration to present even further assistance for the growth of RLGs, such as fiscal incentives and regulatory certainty. He said: “The governing administration requirements to do additional to guidance the enhancement of RLGs if we are to make them a viable option for all off-grid properties.”