Today (10 December) at COP21, leading resource management provider Veolia is calling on the UK to take biomass seriously as a renewable energy source to boost capacity to the National Grid.

This follows Veolia’s announcement of more than £500m in biomass energy contracts in 2015 with the capacity to power 200,000 homes.

Senior executive vice president, Veolia UK and Ireland, Estelle Brachlianoff, said: “These renewable power plants offer a cost effective solution and help take the pressure off the Grid by providing it with carbon neutral green energy. Biomass energy is available 24/7 and boosts UK energy security – in fact by 2050 it could be providing almost 20% of our primary energy provision so it’s an under-utilised secure resource.”

She continued: “We need to improve the resilience of the Grid and take our power into our own hands. Biomass energy will help the UK meet its carbon targets and environmental goals. One of the cheaper renewable energy solutions to deploy, biomass actually reduces net carbon in the atmosphere. To encourage investment in this technology ROCs and RHI in place are key success factors to help make this clean bright future a reality.”

In 2015 Veolia has increased its biomass capacity in the UK and Ireland by over 55 megawatt electrical (MWe). From this it will transform around 470,000 tonnes of waste and virgin wood into biomass to generate renewable energy and heating which will cut carbon emissions by an estimated 260,000 tonnes per year.

Already managing biomass energy schemes in Chilton, Sheffield, London, Cornwall and York, Veolia is also developing expertise gained across 300 international dedicated biomass energy plants. Heat and electricity provided to the residents by biomass schemes can also greatly improve the quality of life of social housing residents, reducing energy price rises and fuel poverty.