Call for green energy support

Sep 18 2006 Anastasia Weiner, Evening Gazette

Britain is falling behind other countries in the use of organic energy sources, an influential committee of MPs warned today.

The Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is urging the Government to promote greater use of "bioenergy" to help reduce carbon emissions.

Its latest report says that immediate steps should be taken to support the production of synthetic kerosene - a "green" fuel for aircraft - from biomass. Biofuel technology should also be used for road transport.

The committee also said it was "deeply disappointed" that biomass heat - plant or animal materials such as timber crops, straw or other waste - had not been properly addressed in the recent Energy Review.

Michael Jack, committee chairman, said: "For a nation that prides itself on its international leadership role on the climate change agenda, it's not acceptable for Britain to lag behind so many other countries in the way that it is embracing bioenergy."

Commenting on the report, Ian Pearson, Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, said the Government was taking action.

"The Biomass Task Force, set up in 2004, was established to stimulate biomass supply and demand in a bid to help meet renewable energy targets," he said.

"It reported earlier this year that some of its recommendations have already been acted upon.

Tees Valley is fast becoming a world leader in the field of renewable energy.

Earlier this year production at Biofuels Corporation's £45m facility at Seal Sands got underway and Stokesley-based Vireol announced plans to spend £100m building the UK's first large-scale bioethanol plants, including one on Teesside, by 2008.

The region is also being scoured as a possible site to build power stations that will convert waste food into energy.

A planning application for a combined heat and power station at Middlehaven was submitted last month.