WIN FOR BIOMASS CAMPAIGN: subsidies halved - but battle continues

Campaigners have welcomed new restrictions on Northumberland's biomass power plant, and renewed their commitment to bring to an end UK subsidies to our country's two biggest carbon emitters: Drax and Lynemouth biomass power plants.

One year after the Government announced a new agreement for Drax, protracted negotiations with Lynemouth have resulted in new tougher controls and reduced subsidies. The details of the Government announcement are here, and include:

• reduced subsidy commitments, project to halve the payments to Lynemouth

• a profit clawback mechanism to prevent excess profits at times of high power prices

• proportion of biomass that must be sustainably sourced increased from 70% to 100%

• excludes material harvested in primary forest and old growth areas from receiving support payments

• expanded powers to conduct audits and review Lynemouth’s supply chain to identify issues early and ensure action is taken

The agreement runs until March 2031. Our goal now is to ensure that date will be the end of the UK incentivising deforestation and the harmful emissions from biomass burning. Climate Action Newcastle's in-depth background report spells out how Lynemouth's biomass burning is causing deforestation across North America. Wood pellets have been shipped in record quantities through Port of Tyne, resulting in some of the highest levels of carbon emissions in the UK. It's feared that its owners, EPH, will seek even more subsidies, via other approaches such as the BECCS carbon capture scheme or the new AI Zone for the North of Tyne area.

Biofuelwatch has been covering this: http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk. And if you would like further specialist advice, please email biofuelwatch@gmail.com. There's more info below on how we can seek to influence future Government decisions.

YOU CAN HELP STOP THIS HARMFUL WASTE OF UK SUBSIDIES Please demand that our Government invests in real green energy and green jobs, not corporate money grab scams!

Please write to your MP (and let us know the response!):

• Ask them to lobby for the end of subsidies for burning wood in power stations, such at Lynemouth

• Make sure they are aware of the devastating results of our UK biomass subsidies for deforestation and carbon emissions

Email climatenewcastle@gmail.com with your campaigning news, the responses from MPs and any other updates.

If you prefer to phone your MP - that's good too! You can find your MP’s phone number on the parliament directory of MPs or on their website/social media.

Draft script:

Action taker: Hello can I speak to [your MP's name]?

Representative: (Likely to say no)

Action taker: Okay I understand

Action taker: Will you pass on my message? I’m urging [your MP] to prevent Lynemouth power plant from being given new subsidies, through extending its contract after 2031 or through other possibilities, such as for BECCS. Green subsidies going to Lynemouth need to be redirected to real climate action, such as insulating homes. With record temperatures and devastating climate catastrophes around the world, it’s vital for the UK and other international policymakers to promote genuinely green and clear energy, rather than unproven technology which locks in polluting tree burning at scale.

Use our social media: ask our supporters to contact their MPs and spread the word.

BACKGROUND INFO - UK biomass support

CAN took part in the Government consultation on transitional support - link here.

The Government has provided multi-million pound subsidies for the development of carbon capture schemes proposed by Drax - even though the technology and the scale of any emission reduction is not yet proven (Biofuelwatch report here; The Guardian report here; Private Eye report January 2024). This was underlined by the National Audit Office report on 24 January (coverage here).

Lynemouth power plant  - the "Drax on our doorstep" - has also carried out feasibility studies into carbon capture and storage. Its owners have been ordered by the energy regulator to repay £23m for violating market rules at another of its UK plants: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/oct/13/daniel-kretinsky-owned-power-plant-must-pay-23m-for-charging-excessive-payments. Ofgem also took action against Drax, which resulted in a payment of £6.12m.