Three North East companies have signed a declaration at the Cop26 summit that aims to put bioenergy at the heart of the net zero drive.
Northumberland’s Lynemouth Power Station has joined the Port of Tyne and Teesport operator PD Ports in helping to launch the Glasgow Declaration on Sustainable Bioenergy.
The declaration outlines the role that bioenergy can play in net zero ambitions agreed by the international community, as well as plans to ensure that any increase in the use of bioenergy are managed sustainably.
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Lynemouth Power Station was formerly the coal-fired supplier of power to the adjacent aluminium smelter, but switched to biomass and now generates 420MW of low carbon electricity, enough to supply approximately 450,000 homes.
Fiona Macleod, managing director of Lynemouth Power Station, said: “We’re facing a climate challenge and to reach net zero by 2050, we must do more. The Glasgow Declaration brings together key players in the biomass supply chain – from sustainable forestry through to the pellet producers, the shippers and ports to the electricity generators – all combining to reaffirm our commitment to work together to meet the net zero challenge and the international commitments made during COP 26.
“We have achieved a lot so far, especially here at Lynemouth, and have a solid base upon which to build. Therefore, we want to make the maximum possible contribution to net zero by realising the full potential of sustainable bioenergy.”
The Glasgow declaration says that wood-based bioenergy is projected to reduce global CO2 emissions by 600m tonnes by 2050, but needs to be increased if countries are to hit targets on keeping temperatures down.
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Lynemouth has also pledged to review its operations over the next few years, including examination of the potential use of carbon capture and storage, to ensure that the sector is making as great a contribution to the climate agenda as possible.
Ms Macleod said: “This means working collaboratively with the wider bioenergy industry and the 海角视频 Government, and we have had very constructive dialogue with the Government during the review of its bioenergy strategy. We therefore welcome the recent update.
“Biomass has already provided a significant contribution towards decarbonisation of 海角视频 electricity generation, and the Government has recognised that, as a minimum, this needs to continue and where possible expand.
“We are making great progress in understanding what continued operations look like for Lynemouth after 2027, and how this fits into the wider net zero ambition. This includes a good understanding of how Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage could be applied to the site, how this would interface with our existing operations, and what work is required to extend the operating period of the existing plant.”