Using environmental data to help industry invest in the UK biomass market

Biomass produced from perennial energy crops, Miscanthus and short-rotation coppice, can reduce the carbon intensity of energy production. The UK Government has had incentive policies in place, targeting farmers and power plant investors to develop this market, but growth has been slower than anticipated. Market expansion requires farmers to select to grow these crops, and the construction of facilities to consume them. This project develops and uses environmental data linked to a model of biomass supply and demand to improve our understanding of the behaviour of the energy crop market in the UK. The project is led by a consulting company (Ecometrica) developing a data platform that will be available to potential market participants, based on scenario results from a market model developed by academic researcher (SRUC). Realistic market scenarios will be developed and tested using the decisions facing a major energy market participant (E.ON). The outcome will be a credible set of business scenarios of market development useful for both government and private investors, and information on the environmental impact, including the lifecycle carbon cost.