Industrial crops - What was new
20 December 2006 - We have now updated the website with details of the forthcoming Bio-energy Capital Grants Scheme Round 3.
16 November 2006 - Strategy for non-food crops and uses: Two year progress report and summary of progress with each Strategy action published.
6 September 2006 - The Forestry Commission's new Biomass Energy Centre is a major new hub for bio-energy advice and best practice for farmers, industry and the public.
28 March 2006 - As part of the new Climate Change Programme, the Government announced that, subject to approval by the European Commission, it intends to launch a second application round for the Bio-energy Infrastructure Scheme during 2006-07. Further details will be announced shortly.
13 March 2006 - Defra and the Forestry Commission have published a joint review of the impacts of short rotation forestry
2 December 2004 - The Chancellor announced in the Pre-Budget Report a package of measures to support the development of transport biofuels
5 November 2004 -The report A strategy for non-food crops and uses - creating value from renewable materials has now been published.
15 October 2004 - Food and Farming Minister Lord Whitty announced the setting up of a Biomass Study Task Force the launch of the Bio-energy Infrastructure Scheme and the publication of the Government's response to the biomass report from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.
24 June 2004 - Defra commissioned ILEX Energy Consulting Ltd to look at the issues and options for
support mechanisms for the production of heat from biomass sources.
Their final report Possible support mechanisms for biomass-generated
heat 
is now available.
30 April 2004 - A consultation on a strategy for non-food crops and uses.
1 January 2004 - An additional annual
aid payment for energy crops of 45 euros, introduced as part of the recent
round of CAP reform,
is available. More detailed information can be found on the Rural
Payments Website
under Energy Aid Payment.
19 December 2003 - Stephen Timms,
Energy Minister, today announced
plans to boost take-up of biomass by producers and power generators. Co-firing
under the Renewables Obligation is to be extended to allow longer for
an energy crop market to develop, through establishing biomass operations
at co-fired stations.
11 December 2003 - The UK’s
third coppice producer group was launched
at the South East Renewable Energy Conference. The new group will be based
in the Thames Valley and trade under the name ‘TV Bioenergy (Coppice)
Ltd'. Find out more about the conference on the TV
Energy
website.
25 November 2003 - The National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC) was launched yesterday by Food and Farming Minister Lord Whitty. The NNFCC aims to raise awareness among scientists, farmers and industry of the hundreds of products crops could be used for, such as car parts, lubricants, beauty creams, clothing, starch-based plastics, renewable construction materials and solvents free of toxic chemicals.
22 October 2003 - Just over a month
left for comments on the proposals
to adjust the Renewables Obligation Order 2002.
29 August 2003 - New moves to encourage
the greater use of biomass-powered generators were outlined
by Energy Minister Stephen Timms today.
The proposals - published in a consultation document "Technical Review of the Renewables Obligation" - will mainly benefit farmers who grow energy crops and co-firing power stations, those which burn a combination of biomass and fossil fuels.
18 July 2003 - The House of Lords
Science and Technology Committee has invited
evidence
for its new Inquiry into the practicalities of developing renewable energy.
26 June 2003 - A consolidated
list of the new bio-energy markets
is now available.
8 May 2003 - The EU Biofuels Directive
on the promotion of the use of biofuels or other renewable fuels for transport
(2003/30/EC)
has been adopted.
9 April 2003 - The Chancellor announced in Budget 2003 that the Government will reduce the duty rate for bioethanol by 20 pence per litre compared to ultra-low sulphur petrol with effect from 01 January 2005.
3 April 2003 - It has been announced
that projects in Staffordshire, Somerset, Wiltshire and Devon will receive
a total of £18.74m to help build biomass power plants under the
Bio-energy Capital Grants Scheme.
24 February 2003 - The Energy White
Paper Our
energy future - creating a low carbon economy
has been published.
29 January 2003 - Defra commissioned
Sheffield-Hallam University to look at the evidence on the production
and use of biodiesel. Their final report Evaluation
of the comparative energy, global warming and socio-economic costs and
benefits of biodiesel
(764 KB) is now available.
23 January 2003 - Eleven bioenergy
heat projects throughout the UK will receive a £4.2m boost through
grants announced
by Energy Minister Brian Wilson today.
14 January 2003 - The £10 million
Clear Skies Initiative was announced today by Energy Minister Brian Wilson.
It aims to give homeowners and communities a chance to become more familiar
with renewable energy by providing grants and advice. See www.clear-skies.org
for more details.
31 December 2002 - The results of the consultation on the Bio-energy Infrastructure Scheme, and the Government’s response to the comments put forward, were published.
27 November 2002 - In his pre-budget report the Chancellor announced that the Government intends to introduce a duty rate of 25.82 pence per litre for bioethanol. Consultation with stakeholders will take place on when to introduce the incentive with a view to announcing the decision in Budget 2003.
5 September 2002 - The first
annual report of the Government-Industry Forum on Non-Food Uses of Crops
(967 KB) is published today. The report contains details of the Forum's
work in its first year and its initial thoughts and recommendations to
Government on how to stimulate development of non-food uses of crops in
the UK.
14 August 2002 - The final project report on 'Starch granule destructurisation and modification under homogeneous aqueous conditions' by the BioComposites Centre, University of Wales Bangor is available:
8 July 2002 - A new publication Growing
short rotation coppice - best practice guidelines for applicants to Defra's
Energy Crops Scheme
is now available. It provides guidance on the choice of site, planting
techniques, crop management and harvesting methods required when growing
short rotation willow or poplar coppice as an energy crop.
Hard copies are available free of charge from Defra Publications, Admail 6000, London, SW1A 2XX. Tel: 08459 556000. Quote reference PB 7135.
2 July 2002 - The draft version of Sheffield Hallam University's report, "Evaluation of the Comparative Energy, Environmental and Socio-Economic Costs and Benefits of Biodiesel" is available on their website. They have made the draft open for consultation until 31 July 2002. If you would like to send comments or feedback, an online discussion forum has been provided. Alternatively, the University can be contacted directly.
25 June 2002 - Consultation exercise on the bio-energy infrastructure scheme
Defra sought views on a proposed new grant scheme to help develop the supply chain required to harvest, store, process and supply biomass, such as energy crops and forestry woodfuel, to energy end-users.
1 May 2002 - The £66 million Bioenergy Capital Grants Scheme was launched by Energy Minister, Brian Wilson. The money will support the establishment of up to six power stations to produce electricity from burning fast growing crops such as straw, willow or miscanthus, and up to a hundred smaller power and heat plants.
- Application packs and guidance notes are available from the DTI
website
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Page last modified: 16 October 2007