A low-biomass clean power system for the UK is achievable

Ember modelling indicates that the UK can reduce biomass power generation by 55% to just 2% of total electricity generation by 2030 without compromising grid stability. This low-biomass pathway involves reducing biomass capacity by 2 GW—retaining only the equivalent of one unit at Drax—and replacing the lost generation primarily through increased power imports (6.9 TWh) and a slight increase in gas use (2.9 TWh). The report highlights that biomass power is significantly more expensive than gas or wind, costing £138/MWh under a Contract for Difference, and poses energy security risks due to its total reliance on imports, as Drax consumed 5.8 million tonnes of non-UK wood biomass in 2023. Despite the reduction in biomass, the UK would remain a net exporter of electricity, totaling 60 TWh annually.

• A low-biomass clean power system for 2030 is achievable and stable, reducing biomass generation by 55% to just 2% of total electricity generation.
• The proposed low-biomass pathway reduces biomass capacity by 2 GW, retaining only the equivalent of a single unit of large-scale biomass power (specifically Drax).
• The reduction in biomass generation (10 TWh) is primarily offset by a 6.9 TWh increase in electricity imports and a 2.9 TWh increase in gas-fired generation, yet the UK remains a net exporter of 60 TWh of power.
• Biomass power is significantly more costly than other sources; at £138/MWh under a Contract for Difference, it is 80% more expensive than the 2024 average for gas generation (£77/MWh).
• Large-scale biomass creates energy security risks and ecological concerns, as Drax consumed 5.8 million tonnes of imported wood biomass in 2023, nearly 20 times the UK's domestic pellet production of 0.3 million tonnes.

APA

Ember (2024). A low-biomass clean power system for the UK is achievable. https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/a-low-biomass-clean-power-system-for-the-uk-is-achievable

Chicago

Ember. A low-biomass clean power system for the UK is achievable. 2024. https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/a-low-biomass-clean-power-system-for-the-uk-is-achievable.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Ember |title=A low-biomass clean power system for the UK is achievable |date=11 December 2024 |url=https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/a-low-biomass-clean-power-system-for-the-uk-is-achievable |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ember2024lowbiomass, author = {{Ember}}, title = {{A low-biomass clean power system for the UK is achievable}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/a-low-biomass-clean-power-system-for-the-uk-is-achievable}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }