The NFU has pledged its support to the biomass heat industry’s call for UK Government to extend the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme (RHI) and raise fossil fuel duties to help meet carbon emission targets.

Biomass in rural areas can create successful, workable circular economies across farming, agriculture and forestry sectors and is often the most viable and lowest carbon option available to businesses and households in off-gas grid areas.

Given the UK Government’s pledge to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, it is essential that rural households and businesses aren’t left behind their urban counterparts when it comes to future heat decarbonisation strategies, especially given that many of the biomass heat industry’s 700+ supply chain companies operate rurally.

The NFU is backing the Biomass Heat Works! campaign, which is a huge boost and one which has been welcomed by industry leaders.

Neil Holland of the UK Pellet Council explained: “We’re delighted that the NFU have pledged its support to the campaign as a vast number of its members up and down the country are advocates of biomass heat.

“There is a much bigger picture that the Government needs to urgently consider here, and that is by extending the RHI and specifying biomass as the most proven and commercially-ready solution to decarbonising heat in rural areas, we can also create a highly sustainable rural economy, good employment opportunities and business growth in agricultural industries going forward.

“The UK’s biomass industry employs almost four times the number of those working within the country’s fishing industry and already, over 30 per cent of non-domestic biomass capacity is within the agricultural sector.

"Therefore, Government support and investment in the biomass sector, as in other European countries, would make a significant contribution to the 2050 carbon reduction targets whilst making rural businesses more resilient and homes more energy efficient."

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