Extracts from the May-June 2003 edition of Renew
These extracts only represent about 25% of it

7. £4.2m for Bio energy

Eleven bioenergy projects throughout the UK will receive a £4.2m boost through DTI grants. The DTI claimed that capital grants will ‘help establish bioenergy projects as a viable source for both industrial and domestic consumers to meet their heat requirements. They will also help to significantly increase current output from energy crops such as willow, poplar and elephant grass, as well as other sources of biomass like forestry residues.’

Energy Minister Brian Wilson said: "It is essential that bioenergy is given every opportunity to get off the ground now to ensure that projects increase in scale and number, and make a significant contribution to the UK’s energy needs."

He added "Successful biomass power stations are already up and running- the straw plant in Ely is providing enough electricity for an estimated 80,000 homes. These grants are essential to build on our successes and ensure that more and more of our energy needs are met through clean, green renewable sources. Bioenergy also has great potential to create jobs and develop new income sources for rural communities through growing and supplying energy crops."

The awards are the first of a series of grants targeted at project developers and organisations considering investing in heat and/or electricity generating projects fuelled by energy crops. Seven of these projects, which will support the establishment of clusters of bioenergy heating installations, are being backed by the New Opportunities Fund, a National Lottery good cause distributor. Four larger scale industrial heating installations, with a heat capacity of more than 0.5MW are supported by capital grants from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

* The Bioenergy Capital Grants Scheme promotes the use of energy crops by stimulating the early deployment of biomass fuelled heat and electricity generation projects by awarding capital grants towards the cost of equipment in complete installations. The £4.5m grants form part of a total of approximately £100 million allocated to bioenergy projects from the DTI, the New Opportunities Fund and DEFRA. This includes over £3 million from the Bio-Energy scheme directed to small-scale biomass heating projects.

Projects for larger biomass electricity/Combined Heat and Power competing for the balance of funds available under the £66 million programme are currently being assessed by DTI, NOF and DEFRA. £36 million of this is available for a twin-track Bio-energy Capital Grants Scheme, a joint scheme with the Department of Trade and Industry which is also investing another £30 million in the scheme. In addition, DEFRA has made £32m available to develop the agricultural activities needed to supply the bioenergy industry with energy crops. Details of the schemes will be in Renew 144.