Renewable energy directive a fantastic opportunity for British agriculture

The adoption of the Renewable Energy Directive by the European Parliament today (Wednesday) is a fantastic opportunity for British agriculture, the NFU said.

The Directive will introduce mandatory targets requiring the EU to meet 20 per cent of energy use and ten per cent of transport energy from renewable sources by 2020.

NFU President Peter Kendall said: “This Directive represents a fantastic opportunity for British agriculture and will put in place long term market signals for renewables in Europe as well as opening up enormous new market potential for farmers in the UK with the increased uptake of biomass for energy and renewable fuels.

“Mandatory sustainability criteria in the Directive are a world first and UK agriculture is well placed to meet these high environmental standards.

“British agriculture can play a key role in energy security by delivering the sustainable biomass for energy and transport fuels needed to help meet the targets. This shows the important role that famers can play as part of the solution to climate change. Sourcing assured home grown crops for green industries such as biofuels and using the co-products of production for animal feed will benefit both the environment and UK farmers.

“This Directive also provides security and confidence for companies already constructing biofuel plants as well as offering real investment opportunities for the future.”

Alwyn Hughes, chief executive of Ensus, which will open Europe’s largest bioethanol plant on Teesside this summer, said: “This is very positive news. It provides long-term encouragement to companies like ours who are investing in this vital new industry to combat climate change.

“We welcome the distinction between good and bad biofuels and the new mandatory sustainability criteria to which we and most European producers already conform. The Ensus plant will produce biofuels from the UK and will meet the new mandatory standards for greenhouse gas savings and sustainability to be put in place.”

Notes to editors:

1. Only biofuels which contribute significant Greenhouse gas savings will count towards the target (35 per cent rising to 50 per cent from 2017 for existing plants; 60 per cent for new installations operating post 2017).

2. Around 90 per cent of the crops produced in England come from farms in ACCS, a farm assurance scheme that ensures that farmers comply with a variety of standards, including environmental standards on soil, water and air. This standard has been accepted as a qualifying environmental standard for the RTFO in the UK introduced in April 2008.

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