The UK government has committed to reaching net zero by 2050 and is working towards making the country a world-leader in renewable energy generation. While wind and solar power get many of the headlines, bioenergy is an important part of the UK’s energy mix.
In fact, bioenergy is cited as one of the four main renewable energy sources the UK has by the National Grid, alongside wind, solar and hydroelectric energy generation. This means bioenergy is certainly here to stay and likely to form an increasingly crucial part of the picture as fossil fuels continue to be phased out.
A recent report on behalf of the Renewable Energy Association (REA) highlighted the importance of biomass power as we shift towards other, potentially less reliable, renewable energy sources.
Researchers found that bioenergy accounts for 5.5 GW of what’s described as “reliable ‘firm’ power” that is crucial for balancing out the energy generated by other renewable sources over which we have far less control.
Where does bioenergy come in?
The need for bioenergy is clear. The latest figures on energy generation in the UK released by the government show that renewable energy generation fell across the country in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Lower wind generation due to unfavourable weather conditions was named as one of the main reasons for the ten per cent collective reduction across wind, solar and hydroelectric generation. This is where bioenergy can step in and fill the void.
According to the REA report, the power generated by the UK’s biomass facilities is the equivalent of 90 per cent of the country’s current nuclear capacity and can be used to help balance out the less steady supply provided by other renewable sources.
Why is bioenergy so important for the UK’s energy mix?
In the first instance, bioenergy can be used as an alternative to natural gas generation and reduce the need for new-build batteries to be created to ensure there is stored energy to support the UK’s power grid during periods of unfavourable weather.
But bioenergy also supports thousands of jobs within the UK and contributes approximately £2 billion in value to the economy each year. The REA research also predicted that using bioenergy to balance out the variability created by increasingly relying on renewable energy sources could save the UK’s energy system up to £900 million each year.
This will help to deliver energy security and reduce the country’s reliance on imports of oil and gas from overseas markets.
What’s more, bioenergy is unusual as a renewable source in that it can be used across all three of the UK’s energy sectors: transport, heat and electricity. This versatility is one of the reasons why bioenergy is growing in popularity.
Another reason why bioenergy is so important as part of the energy mix, not just in the UK but the world over, is because it can be used as a direct drop-in substitute for fossil fuels. Demand for bioenergy is forecast to increase in the coming 25 years as more of the world transitions to low-carbon or zero-carbon energy sources.
Where does our bioenergy come from?
There are various sources of bioenergy, including organic waste streams like food waste and sewage, as well as from forestry. Current projections show an increasing amount of bioenergy around the world being generated from organic waste streams as we move towards 2030 and 2050.
Short rotation woody crops along with forest and wood residues are also expected to make up a greater percentage of the bioenergy mix over the coming two to three decades.
What’s next for bioenergy?
One of the key innovations for the bioenergy sector is bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technologies. Such facilities will help remove carbon from the atmosphere by capturing any emissions produced during the production of biofuels.
Incorporating BECCS into the country’s biomass plants was among the recommendations in the government’s Biomass Strategy that was published in 2023.
There is a clear demand and need for bioenergy within the UK and around the world. Bioenergy plant operators will need to continue to explore new technology to streamline what they offer, as well as continuing to provide a valuable source of energy for the country.
This means maintaining existing facilities to ensure they can continue to operate efficiently and safely. Regularly assessing and replacing any critical pieces of equipment within these plants will ensure that the UK continues its journey towards a future filled with more renewable energy and lower carbon emissions.
