Developers may now compete for a piece of the pie for the usage of materials such as grasses, hemp, and seaweed to assist the UK achieve net zero energy.
According to the Energy Department BEIS, the selected projects will increase biomass productivity through the breeding, planting, nurturing, and harvesting of organic matter, ranging from water-based materials such as algae to full trees through sustainable forestry operations.
The grant, which is available under Phase 2 of the Biomass Feedstocks Innovation Programme, will be used to finance initiatives that will develop novel methods of increasing biomass output.
Each project will be able to compete for up to £4 million in funding, or up to £5 million for submissions from multi-site demonstrator projects showcasing novel biomass feedstock production initiatives in different sites throughout the UK.
Phase 1 of the plan has already awarded £4 million to 25 projects around the nation, ranging from start-ups and family-run enterprises to research institutes and universities. Phase 2 will see the projects go from the design stage to full demonstration projects, exhibiting novel techniques for growing biomass materials that may be utilized to generate low-carbon energy.
“Developing cleaner fuels like biomass is critical to helping the UK cut carbon emissions and bring down consumer costs,” said Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Hands (above).
“This £26 million government investment will aid innovators throughout the UK, creating employment and investment and ensuring we have the domestic supplies we need to support our goals to build greener and combat climate change.”