A low-biomass clean power system is stable and has reduced levels of expensive biomass fuel imports. Biomass power generation is reduced by over 50% while the UK remains a net exporter of electricity.
New 2030 clean power modelling by Ember shows that biomass generation can be reduced by half to just 2% of total electricity generation in 2030. A low biomass system is desirable because it can lower bills, reduce UK reliance on volatile imports, and because imported biomass carries with it a risk of high emissions.
A low-biomass comparison to the 2030 Further Flex and Renewables pathway in the NESO Clean Power report has been modelled with biomass capacity reduced by 2 GW compared to the current total. The equivalent to all but one unit of large-scale biomass is modelled to come offline in this clean power analysis, with power imports making up most of the reduction, as well as a slight increase in gas use for power (14%). Although biomass is a small proportion of total generation, it can have an outsized impact on energy bills. Biomass power costs £138/MWh under a Contract for Difference (2024 prices), 80% higher than the average price of generating electricity using gas in 2024.
