Biomass project development in the UK market is a lengthy and challenging process. A considerable number of obstacles lie in wait. While planning and public perception appear less critical than in the past, the continuing dependence on public sector and wide stakeholder support do introduce significant complexity.

There are still significant regulatory risks, with co-firing (off-site/on-site blending ?) one of the most recent examples. The opportunity to find a calm haven where biomass can be developed logically, to serve local conditions, would be very welcome.

Since biomass sits at the intersect of four highly turbulent markets; energy, waste, agriculture and carbon this is unlikely. Projects also need to anticipate future market developments to avoid building ‘stranded’ assets, and many aspiring green energy companies find they are inevitably drawn into the brown, and black, energy markets to support the commercialisation of renewable energy concepts.

ESD takes a flexible approach to project development, with ESD Biomass aiming specifically at sustainable fuelling for the low carbon energy markets through a portfolio of related projects.