Ministers bullish on biomass fuel; Growing demand for non-food crops (BBC)

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Ministers bullish on biomass fuel

By Mark Kinver
BBC News science and nature reporter

The UK government says energy from crops, trees and waste can play a key role in meeting targets on renewable power and cutting CO2 emissions.

Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks believes the sector is vital if the goal of renewable power providing 20% of UK electricity by 2020 is to be achieved.

Only about 1% of UK electricity currently comes from biomass sources.
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He said it was likely that established technologies, such as onshore wind, would be the main players in meeting the 2003 Energy White Paper commitment of 10% of UK electricity coming from renewables by 2010.

more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4948052.stm


Growing demand for non-food crops

By Mark Kinver
BBC News science and nature reporter

In the 19th Century, the only "biofuel" that powered farm machinery was the hay and grain that fed the horses that pulled the plough to turn the soil.
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British Sugar is in the process of building a 55,000-tonne bioethanol plant that will process sugar beet; while Wessex Grain subsidiary, Greenspirit Fuels, has been granted planning permission to construct a 100,000-tonne plant in Somerset.
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"Biofuels, based on current UK production methods, saves about 60-70% on carbon emissions in comparison to fossil fuels. This takes into account the whole process - seeds, planting, spraying, drying and transporting.
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Biofuels - oilseed rape, wheat, barley, sugar beet
Energy crops - willow, miscanthus
Biopolymers - linseed, high erucic acid rape, cereals
Biolubricants - crambe,
Pharmaceuticals - borage, crambe, poppy, echium, chamomile
Construction - hemp
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4914748.stm