Providing the Scientific Foundations to Build a Sustainable Low Carbon UK Bioenergy Sector

  • Welfle, Andrew (Participant)
  • Elizabeth Thornley (Participant)
  • Mirjam Roeder (Participant)
  • Paul Gilbert (Participant)

Impact: Environmental, Policy

Narrative

Bioenergy has become the largest renewable energy technology in the UK, contributing >31% renewable electricity, >83% renewable heat and 5% total transport energy. The UK Government has strong ambitions to increase bioenergy as part of its industrial strategy and climate change commitments.
University of Manchester (UoM) research has provided science underpinning the UK’s bioenergy strategy, which provides the foundations for growing a sustainable bioenergy sector. Working in partnership with industry, NGOs and Government, UoM research has promoted a greater role for bioenergy, use of UK biomass resources, and best use for biomass. Manchester’s science directly influenced the refocusing of the UK’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) in 2015 to prioritise heat bioenergy generated from UK waste materials that has, to date, resulted in an 84% increase in UK bioheat generation from these fuels. Manchester research also helped secure an additional GBP110,000,000 from HM Treasury to extend the RHI scheme and develop future renewable heat support schemes.
Impact date1 Aug 2013 → 31 Jul 2020
Category of impactEnvironmental, Policy
Impact levelAdoption

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Energy
  • Sustainable Futures
  • Policy@Manchester

Documents & Links

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