Clear and consistent policy guidance on sustainable biomass sourcing is crucial to attract private investment in bioenergy and support the UK’s move towards net-zero emissions, according to Alicia Newton, senior scientific officer at Drax.
Speaking after Drax hosted its first science summit, Positively Net Zero, earlier this month, Newton said the UK government’s consultation on a shared sustainability framework for biomass was a positive step that could help encourage long-term industrial investment. She said well-defined rules give businesses the confidence needed to plan and expand responsibly, reports Bioenergy Insight.
Newton said bioenergy already plays an important role in the UK’s low-carbon energy system and is expected to become even more important as renewable sources such as wind and solar continue to grow. She said guidance based on sound research would help companies understand how to source biomass responsibly and strengthen their supply chains.
The summit brought together scientists, academics, policymakers and regulators to examine the scientific foundations needed to deliver positive outcomes for the climate and the environment, particularly in Yorkshire, the Humber region and other industrial areas.
Newton stressed that close coordination between science, industry and government was essential to meeting climate targets at the lowest possible cost, while also supporting nature recovery and economic growth. She pointed to examples such as new bio-based packaging solutions that could reduce plastic waste but are not yet widely used because the UK’s waste management systems are not equipped to process them effectively. She described this as a missed chance to cut waste and emissions.
She also said that cutting emissions from major industrial hubs such as the Humber is possible using existing technology and could significantly reduce the UK’s overall carbon output. At the same time, she said this approach could support a fair transition for local communities. However, she noted that progress depends on policies that share risk fairly, rather than leaving individual companies exposed, and that allow local communities to benefit through jobs and local supply chains.
The summit also highlighted the role of policy in unlocking private funding. Newton cited biodiversity net gain rules in the UK as an example of regulation that has helped channel investment into land restoration, while encouraging developers to support nature recovery. She said this has been supported by rapid advances in scientific data and modelling.
She added that discussions around nature protection have moved beyond simply avoiding harm and are now focused on actively improving biodiversity and environmental outcomes.
Newton said the summit provided a valuable platform for sharing ideas and building cooperation. She said participants left with a shared understanding that collaboration is needed to realise the potential of the Humber and nearby industrial clusters to deliver a fair, nature-friendly and net-zero future.
