Leaders need to give ‘green’ light for bioenergy

The Government is not doing enough to promote the development and use of bioenergy says NFU North West Crops Chairman Richard Reeves.

In a report published this week, the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee says the UK is lagging behind other countries in the promotion and use of energy produced from plants and waste – an opinion shared by the NFU.

Mr Reeves, of Tattondale Farm in Knutsford, Cheshire, said: "Commercial British firms will ultimately drive bioenergy forward but they will not do so until they are given a green light by the Government. That light is currently only on amber.

"At the moment we are only hanging on the coat tails of the rest of Europe when we should be leading from the front. Farmers are keen to play their part to find ways to combat the causes of climate change and providing sources of renewable energy is one solution we've been championing for some time.

"What we need is long term, strong targets from Government which we haven't yet seen. Meanwhile, other European countries stride ahead with the technology, infrastructure and the consumer demand.

"In the UK we have more than enough land to produce food and bioenergy and enhance wildlife habitats. We have a real chance to produce greener fuel and heat solutions domestically – which will make us not only more environmentally friendly, but also provide alternative sources of energy at a time when the world energy market is becoming increasingly fraught.

"The EFRA report states that the UK has a disjointed, piecemeal approach and lacks ambition in this area. It calls for a minister to be put in charge of the brief. The NFU has been calling for a Minister for Climate Change for some time, to take this issue in hand, manage cross-departmental involvement and drive the policy forward."