The United States is aiming to increase its exports of wood pellets to the United Kingdom as part of ongoing trade discussions, according to US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Speaking during her visit to London, Rollins expressed full confidence that American wood pellets meet the UK’s sustainability standards and could be used more widely as biomass fuel, reports Bioenergy Insight.
Rollins met with UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Energy Minister Michael Shanks on 13 May, where she promoted a range of American agricultural products, including wood pellets. The talks come as the UK continues to review its energy sources and trade relationships, particularly in the context of renewable energy and sustainability.
Despite the push for increased imports, the use of biomass—especially wood pellets—remains controversial. UK-based energy company Drax, which receives government subsidies to operate its biomass plants, has faced criticism over claims that some of the wood it uses is sourced from ancient forests in the US.
When questioned about these concerns, Rollins defended the US biomass industry. “We are 100% confident that it does meet your sustainability requirements here in this country,” she said. She also noted that the issue was directly discussed with UK officials. “Yesterday, that was one of the key things that I spoke to Secretary Miliband and Under Secretary Shanks about … and they agreed – I don’t want to get ahead of them – but in that meeting, they felt fully assured that what we are doing in America does meet your sustainability requirements.”
Rollins suggested that the US could become a more prominent supplier of wood pellets to the UK, particularly in comparison to other countries currently exporting biomass to Britain. She implied that some of those existing suppliers may not be meeting the same environmental standards.
The discussions take place as the UK government continues to assess its reliance on biomass within its broader climate strategy. While seen by some as a renewable energy source, biomass has faced increasing scrutiny from environmental groups who argue that large-scale wood burning may not be as sustainable as once believed.
