Kerry McCarthy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2014-04-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to his Answer of 16 January 2014, Official Report, columns 994-5, whether his Department is seeking to promote first or second generation biomass and biofuels; and whether his Department has made a sustainability assessment of both forms.

Michael Fallon

First and second generation biofuels are the responsibility of the Department of Transport.

Biomass, when sourced sustainably, can provide a cost-effective, low carbon and controllable source of renewable energy.

The sustainability standards referred to by the Secretary of State’s Answer of 16 January 2014, Official Report, columns 994-5, refer to the use of solid and gaseous biomass for the purposes of renewable electricity generation under the Renewables Obligation (RO). To ensure that Government only supports sustainably produced biomass, it recently introduced requirements as part of the Renewables Obligation. Similar measures will be introduced under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) this autumn, and we intend to mirror the RO requirements within the Contracts for Difference.