Biorenewables essential to low-carbon Britain

PRESS RELEASE. York, UK - 13 December 2011. Energy, fuels and materials made from biomass will be key to the success of a low-carbon Britain, according to the Chief Executive of NNFCC.

Speaking on the launch of the NNFCC’s annual report, Dr Jeremy Tomkinson, Chief Executive of the UK’s independent National Centre for Biorenewable Energy, Fuels and Materials, says that biorenewables can buck the trend and beat the recession by creating prosperity, jobs and delivering sustainable solutions to a wide range of environmental and social issues; factors which will be key to the success of a low-carbon Britain.

“The economic world has changed and financial institutions are being more cautious about lending. This has certainly impacted the development of the bioeconomy and is likely to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. There are also greater pressures on sustainability and corporate accountability. But I believe there are also grounds for optimism,” said Dr Tomkinson.

“New incentives for renewable energy and increasing demand for environmentally sustainable products are creating a more stable platform for growth. And next year will see the start of the Green Investment Bank and a raft of other initiatives designed to stimulate the bioeconomy. Not only that but London will be hosting the Olympic Games – the ‘greenest’ Olympics ever – providing an opportunity for us to highlight the benefits of sustainable living and sustainable industry to an audience of billions. We are facing some big hurdles but the prize is there,” he added.

The NNFCC has played an important role in advising the government on biorenewables since it was opened eight years ago and is increasingly involved in commercial activity with major companies like British Airways, Rolls Royce and BASF.

You can read the NNFCC’s annual report here.