Biofuelwatch, with US and Danish NGOs, has written to the Danish Pension Fund PKA urging them to divest from the 50% equity stake they have taken in the worlds biggest dedicated Biomass combined heat and power plant which is under construction on Teesside. PKA...
Report, briefings and presentations
Stop Enviva’s planned pellet plant to feed growing UK demand for biomass
Rural Richmond County in North Carolina, already an epicenter of environmental injustice, faces its newest threat from wood pellet plant, Enviva. This proposed plant will supply Enviva's 1m tonne pellet contract with MGT Power's Teesside biomass plant in the UK. ...
Biotechnology for Biofuels
“Biotechnology for Biofuels” includes in-depth investigations of three biofuel companies – Algenol, Mascoma, and Solazyme/TerraVia, and will be updated with forthcoming reports on algae and cellulosic biofuels, followed by further materials. Click here to view.
Wind and solar, not biomass, have been key to the UK’s partial coal phase-out so far
New Biofuelwatch analysis In 2016, the UK generated 72% less electricity from coal than in 2011, which is great news for the climate and for communities around the world whose health and environment are harmed by coal mining. Biofuelwatch has carried out the...
Presentation about proposed biomass gasifier in Glenrothes
Presentation prepared for public meeting on 25th May 2017 about the proposed biomass gasifier at Southfield Industrial Estate, Glenrothes
Drax ‘Warning to Investors 2017’
This Warning to Investors was handed to Drax investors entering the Drax AGM in York on 13 April 2017 and, in London, to employees of Invesco and Schroders Bank, Drax's two largest investors, as well as interested passers-by, during the #AxeDrax protests. Drax...
Biofuelwatch report from Stop GE delegation to Chile
Last month, Biofuelwatch joined a delegation in Chile coordinated by the Campaign to STOP Genetically Engineered (GE) Trees to investigate the impacts of industrial tree plantations and share information about the threats posed by GE trees. Given growing...
On International Day for Forests, FAO celebrates cutting them down for energy
La versión en Español de esta página web estará disponible próximamente en www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/2017/fao-día-Internacional-bosques 21st March has been declared International Day for Forests by the UN. Shockingly, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation...
Algenol: Case study of an unsuccessful algae biofuels venture
Executive Summary Algenol is a Florida-based biotechnology company that has received considerable attention as one of the most promising algae biofuel startups. Since its founding in 2006, the company has received $35 - $50 million in public support, alongside tens of...
Orthios Group’s Holyhead Biomass Plans: A new threat to forests – or just a sci-fi idea?
Update: The company no longer exists, and administration (bankruptcy) proceedings began in 2021. There is now no possibility of a biomass plant being built at the site. Click here to download the report Summary: Orthios Group wants to build the world’s largest biomass...
NGO Letter urging the UK’s Treasury to stop future biomass subsidies
Open Letter to the UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, calling for and end to new biomass electricity subsidies awards by NRDC, Southern Environmental Law Center, Dogwood Alliance, Partnership for Policy Integrity, Biofuelwatch, and Fern
Conversation with Ecotricity about their “green gas from gas” proposal
In December 2016, Biofuelwatch published a background briefing about Ecotricity's "green gas from grass" (i.e. grass-based biomethane) proposals: "How Green is Ecotricity's Green Gas from Grass" Ecotricity has now sent us a response to this briefing. You...
Hudol Thermal’s failed gasification pilot plant
Here are the documents which Biofuelwatch Obtained from Natural Resources Wales in response to an information request under the Environmental Information Regulations: Hudol Thermal's original Environmental Permit, granted 23.10.2008 Variation of Hudol Thermal's...
Bioenergy in the European Commission’s proposal for a post-2020 Renewable Energy Directive
Bioenergy in the European Commission's proposed post-202 EU Renewable Energy Directive: An analysis of proposals and impacts A briefing by Biofuelwatch Summary The European Commission’s proposals for a new, post-2020 Renewable Energy Directive (RED) fail to address...
How Green is Ecotricity’s “Green Gas from Grass”?
An investigation by Biofuelwatch into Ecotricity's proposal to replace 97% of natural gas used to heat homes with biomethane made from grass Update: Ecotricity has now sent us a response to our briefing, which we have published in full, with our own comments (in...
UK Government’s coal phase-out proposal full of loopholes
Loopholes in UK 'coal phase-out' proposals boost coal burning until 2025 and might perpetuate it indefinitely On 9th November 2016, the UK Government released its consultation about a possible phase-out of coal in 2025, called “Coal Generation in Great Britain: The...
Pentland ‘film studio’ planning application could lead to a large, polluting biomass power station
Why Scottish Ministers must reject “multi-purpose development” proposal by Pentland Studios Ltd
Policy briefing on UK biomass subsidies
Subsidies for biomass electricity must be stopped and diverted to low-carbon renewables and energy saving measures Executive Summary: In 2015, energy companies received £817 million in UK subsidies for burning solid biomass for electricity, the vast majority of it...