Government needs to give energy direction

The contribution that renewables make to UK energy has been recognised by the government this week, although it has not specified where agriculture will fit into the plan, according to the NFU.

Plans to increase energy supply from renewables including bio-fuels, bio-mass, solar, wind and wave energy, alongside nuclear power, were unveiled in the Energy Review.

But the NFU is disappointed by the lack of emphasis on the role that farmers can play, with no separate levels set for bio-energy to help achieve EU targets.

NFU president Peter Kendall said: “Although the report seems full of good intentions, it fails to lay solid groundwork for the developing UK bio-energy industry. Farmers are willing and able to supply renewable energy but a firm lack of commitment and specific targets is undermining this market.

“If the government is serious about renewables it should set separate bio-energy targets for heat, electricity and fuel, allowing the UK to move towards a cleaner, more secure energy source, and to enable investors the confidence to develop the infrastructure needed.”

The European Environment Agency recently reported that 15 to 16 per cent of EU energy could be met using domestic bio-energy production without harming the environment. The NFU is questioning the government’s commitment to similar targets in the UK.

“There is no single solution to meet the UK energy demand for the future but a package of suitable solutions, with the emphasis on renewables and domestic production, needs to be found,” says Kendall. “While the UK continues to talk up renewables in comparison with our EU counterparts, we’re completely off the pace.

“We will be interested in the findings of the Coal Forum as UK agriculture is keen to develop further green co-firing of UK biomass material. We also welcome a review of planning to overcome problems of building renewable power stations.

“Bio-energy should play a full part in this mix and the government needs to set targets similar to the rest of the EU and not simply rely on market forces to develop a demand for bio-energy.”