Biofuelwatch

Raising awareness of the negative impacts of industrial biofuels and bioenergy

Biofuelwatch provides systemic analysis based on secondary and occasionally primary research and undertakes advocacy and campaigning in relation to the climate, environmental, human rights and public health impacts of large-scale industrial bioenergy.

Our work

BIOFUELS

Biofuelwatch challenges the expansion of crop based and waste based biofuels for road transport and aviation. We highlight their real climate impacts, including indirect land use change, deforestation, land grabbing, and risks to food security and human rights. We call for genuine emissions reductions rather than replacing fossil fuels with other forms of burning.

BECCS AND BIOCHAR

Biofuelwatch opposes climate geoengineering approaches such as BECCS and biochar. These technologies are unproven at scale and depend on vast amounts of biomass, with serious risks to forests, ecosystems and communities. They also risk delaying real climate action by diverting attention from urgent emissions cuts.

#AXEDRAX CAMPAIGN

The Axe Drax campaign challenges large scale tree burning for electricity and the public subsidies that support it. We oppose the expansion of biomass power and plans to combine it with carbon capture. Our work focuses on protecting forests, exposing false climate claims, and ending support for destructive bioenergy.

BIOENERGY IN CALIFORNIA

In California, bioenergy and carbon removal proposals are being promoted as climate solutions. Biofuelwatch tracks these developments and highlights the risks of locking in combustion based infrastructure and expanding biomass demand. We advocate for real climate action based on cutting fossil fuel use, not replacing it with large scale bioenergy.

EUROPE: SUPPORT FOR CAMPAIGNS AGAINST BIG BIOMASS ACROSS EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

We support campaigns across Europe opposing large scale biomass and related infrastructure. Our work connects groups across countries and shares evidence on climate impacts, forest loss, biodiversity harm, air pollution and community impacts. We push for policies that prioritise real renewables and reduced energy demand.

BIOMASS BACKGROUND

Biomass Basics explains why burning wood and other biomass is not a climate solution. It covers carbon emissions, forest impacts, air pollution and the problems with sustainability claims. This section provides clear explanations and links to evidence for people new to the issue.

Industrial scale bioenergy is harming communities and ecosystems as well as the climate

Featured

NESTE’s Biofuels: Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

Report about the Green Gold Label biomass certification scheme

Urgent action: Please ask your MP to say no to Drax’s AI data centre bid

Illusory Emissions Reductions from Biofuels Undermine California Progress on Climate

Latest updates

More information on the 2018 UK biomass subsidy changes

Sep 4, 2018

The two changes announced by the Government apply to Contracts for Difference (CfDs), which are the new scheme for renewable electricity subsidies phased in from 2014-17. Previously, all biomass plants attracted a different subsidy, called Renewable Obligation...

Environmental campaigners applaud Government decision which effectively stops subsidies for burning imported wood in new power stations

Sep 3, 2018

Government urged to review subsidies already granted for wood burning in power plants 3rd September 2018 - Environmental campaigners welcome a new Government decision to rule out future subsidies for biomass power stations with greenhouse gas emissions above 29kg CO2...

92 Environmental Groups Challenge Drax’s Gas Burning Plans

Aug 29, 2018

Open Letter by 92 groups denounces plans for UK’s largest gas power station 29th August 2018 – On the final day of a public consultation about Drax’s planning proposal for what would be the UK’s largest ever gas power plant[1], 91 UK-based and international...

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