The White Paper, published on 23 May 2007, sets out the Government’s international and domestic energy strategy to respond to these changing circumstances, address the long term energy challenges we face and deliver our four energy policy goals: to put ourselves on a path to cutting CO2 emissions by some 60% by about 2050, with real progress by 2020; to maintain the reliability of energy supplies; to promote competitive markets in the UK and beyond; to ensure that every home is adequately and affordably heated.

The Energy Bill became the Energy Act 2008 when it was given Royal Assent on 26 November 2008. The Act will implement the legislative aspects of the 2007 Energy White Paper: meeting the energy challenge.

Biomass is produced from organic materials, either directly from plants or indirectly from industrial, commercial, domestic or agricultural products. It is often called 'bioenergy' or 'biofuels'. It doesn't include fossil fuels, which have taken millions of years to be created. The benefits Producing energy from biomass has both environmental and economic advantages. Although biomass produces CO2 it only releases the same amount that it absorbed whilst growing, which is why it is considered to be carbon neutral. Furthermore, biomass can contribute to waste management by harnessing energy from products that are often disposed of at landfill sites. It is most cost effective and sustainable when a local fuel source is used, which results in local investment and employment and also minimises transport miles to your home.

Energy crops, such as willow and poplar, are used to generate power through a process called co-firing. This is often used to supplement an existing energy source such as coal. Conventional boiling is another process used to extract energy from biomass through the production of steam. Energy crops are now being grown especially for this purpose, but previously they were considered useless and left to rot on fallow land. Gases can be extracted from solid waste and animal matter by composting them in an airless chamber. The biomass is broken down using natural bacteria, to produce methane gas, which is then fed through a turbine or coal power plant. Liquid fuels to power engines such as diesel generators and cars are also obtained from solid biomass by combining alcohol with natural oils. Alcohol in the form of ethanol, is produced by fermenting biomass such as corn and then combined with oils extracted from animal fats and rape seed to make bio-diesel.

Biomass materials are currently used to provide heat, electrical and motive power. They already make an important contribution to the UK’s renewable energy supply, representing 82% on a primary input basis in 2006 which is 1.9% of total, inland primary energy consumption (source: BERR 'Energy in Brief'). Biomass has considerable untapped resource potential and, in future, could play a significant role in helping the UK to meet a range of existing renewable energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets.

Describe and explain, using examples two ways that biomass can be used to harness energy (15 marks) MEDC Case Study Straw-burning power station -  Ely, Cambridgeshire Ely straw-burning power station in Cambridgeshire is the first modern, and the world’s largest, straw-fired power station. It became fully operational in September 2000. The 36-megawatt facility consumes around 200,000 tonnes of straw and generates sufficient electricity every year to satisfy the needs of 80,000 dwellings. The plant is also capable of burning a range of other baled energy crops, such as miscanthus, and can use mixtures of up to 10 per cent natural gas. The facility has created about 50 long-term jobs. Long-term contracts are in place for the sale of the plant’s entire output. The plant is a partnership formed between Energy Power Resources Ltd and Cinergy Global Power.

LEDC Case Study Biogas Practical Action is helping farmers in Sri Lanka install biogas units on their farms to convert cow dung into an alternative power supply. Poo power: cow dung can be used as fuel With fuel wood becoming increasingly expensive and also scarce in some areas, there is a need to look for alternative cooking fuel. Cow manure and biogas fuel technology provides a free, sustainable source of power all year round – and a useful fertiliser which helps to provide a better income for farmers. Cow dung is mixed with water and placed into fermentation pits where it is broken down by natural bacteria, releasing methane. The gas is collected and stored in a tank and then piped on demand to the farmer’s house, to be burnt to generate energy for cooking, laundry and lighting. The biogas plants also produce a rich organic waste which is dried and used as fertiliser. Both fertiliser and fuel wood are increasingly expensive in the country and biogas has a potentially important future. It may also be used to manage organic waste in urban settings.                                  

State the environmental problems linked to fuel wood gathering in less developed countries (6 marks)

Jun 2011

Jun 2011

(15 marks)

(15 marks)

(15 marks)