Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to his Department's report Life Cycle Impacts of Biomass Electricity in 2020, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of that report's conclusion that biomass requires significantly more energy input than other energy sources; and if he will make a statement.

The report shows that biomass, when sourced responsibly, can provide a cost-effective, low carbon and controllable source of renewable energy. The results of the BEAC calculator discussed in the report “Life Cycle Impacts of Biomass Electricity in 2020” allows users to choose between various scenarios and the calculator then models the possible global lifecycle GHG emissions and energy input requirement resulting from those scenarios. The energy input requirement is just one of the factors that need to be taken into account in order to develop a sustainable and low carbon energy policy.