The NFU today welcomed the launch of Defra’s Biomass Capital Grant Scheme as a positive step in helping the development of the biomass market.
The new five-year scheme is designed to support the installation of biomass-fuelled heat and combined heat and power projects in the industrial, commercial and community sectors, and was one of the main recommendations of the Biomass Task Force.
The grants will help recover some of the installation costs of biomass heating systems and should help to develop the domestic biomass heating market in England.
NFU Vice President Paul Temple said: “Farmers are willing and able to produce for the biomass market but this market must be demand-led.
“A scheme such as this to create biomass heating infrastructure and develop the biomass market, which farmers can supply through dedicated energy crops, is a welcome step in the right direction.”
Notes to editors:
1. The Bio-energy Capital Grants Scheme, round three, was launched on December 29 2006 for England only.
2. Grants for up to 40 per cent of the difference in cost compared with the installation of a fossil fuel alternative are available, ranging from £25,000 to £1 million.
3. The closing date for the first round of applications is March 9 2007.
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