Ember’s response to National Grid’s FES2022 call for evidence

Ember's response to National Grid's FES2022 call for evidence challenges the assumption that biomass burning is carbon neutral and questions the reliability of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) for delivering negative emissions.

• Ember challenges the assumption in FES 2021 that burning biomass is carbon neutral, arguing that scientific evidence suggests it is harmful to the climate and environment. The organization asserts that biomass sources that are carbon-neutral on timescales relevant to climate goals are scarce and difficult to identify, making it unlikely that existing or future biomass burning is carbon neutral.
• Because the carbon neutrality of biomass is questioned, Ember argues that the scale and speed of negative emissions from BECCS in FES scenarios are subject to high uncertainty. Since BECCS is essential for reaching net-zero in all FES pathways, Ember claims its credibility is weakened.
• Ember recommends that National Grid include at least one net-zero scenario in FES2022 with very low or no BECCS deployment. This would allow for a quantified comparison of trade-offs between BECCS and alternatives such as nature-based solutions and changes in consumer behavior.
• Ember states there is no justification for unabated bioenergy in future power systems due to high costs, potential carbon emissions, and the availability of clean alternatives for baseload and peaking power. They propose that BECCS be treated as a 'technology of last resort', with its use determined by residual emissions after all other removal options are exhausted.

APA

Ember (2021). Ember’s response to National Grid’s FES2022 call for evidence. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/12/FES2021-Call-for-evidence.pdf

Chicago

Ember. Ember’s response to National Grid’s FES2022 call for evidence. 2021. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/12/FES2021-Call-for-evidence.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Ember |title=Ember’s response to National Grid’s FES2022 call for evidence |date=28 September 2021 |url=https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/12/FES2021-Call-for-evidence.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{ember2021embers, author = {{Ember}}, title = {{Ember’s response to National Grid’s FES2022 call for evidence}}, publisher = {Ember}, year = {2021}, month = sep, url = {https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/12/FES2021-Call-for-evidence.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }