National Audit Office to Evaluate Govt Biomass Strategy

The National Audit Office (NAO) has launched its own investigation into the government’s biomass strategy that was announced in August, in an effort to test its credibility. Yahoo News reports that the use of biomass as a green fuel source is coming under increased scrutiny, with questions about just how sustainable and eco-friendly it is. 

Biomass currently provides about 12% of the UK’s renewable energy supply, with the vast majority being generated at Drax’s power station in Selby, North Yorkshire. The site has four biomass terminals that are central to the government’s plans to become more self-sufficient in terms of national energy supply, and also to help achieve net zero 2050 targets.

The production of biomass involves burning wood pellets or other organic matter to produce energy. Although this is a renewable resource, there are concerns about the level of carbon dioxide that is being released into the atmosphere when biomass is burned. Some analysts claim that it is even more toxic than burning fossil fuels.

Over the last decade, Drax has converted four of its six generating units from coal to biomass fuel. It generates enough renewable energy to power four million households, and produces around 5% of Britain’s electricity supply overall. Most of the wood pellets that it burns are residue from North American sawmills, with shipments arriving daily at UK ports.

Drax claims that they have reduced the Co2 emissions of the power station by 80% since 2012, but some experts dispute this figure. They claim that the figures are dependent on the timber being replaced by new growth, but there is insufficient evidence that this is happening, because young trees absorb less Co2 than older ones. 

Carbon capture technology is being deployed to offset some of the emissions, but this is a slow process and so far it is not offsetting the amount of carbon that is being released through biomass burning. Drax is currently coming under increasing pressure to justify its claims of slashed carbon emissions. 

Policy director Dustin Benton told City A.M. that advocates of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage are failing to “make a compelling case for public subsidy, because the UK has abundant renewable energy, and hydrogen could prove a valuable form of long-term energy storage when renewables aren’t available”.

He added: “BECCs plants like Drax would be useful but aren’t critical to the UK’s power supply – so does subsidising them divert resources from building more renewables or energy storage to stabilise the grid?”

“Meanwhile, given we don’t have adequate international standards for ensuring biomass is truly sustainable, we don’t know for sure whether it’s better to leave forests alone to sequester carbon.”

The government has continued to back the use of biomass, publishing its Biomass Strategy in August. However, the National Audit Office has now launched its own independent investigation amid concerns about the credibility of the strategy. 

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MATT BEVERLEY

A time served Mechanical engineer Matt’s background includes many high-profile projects within the Automotive Industry: The Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, Spyker Le-Mans racing teams, Bentley, Aston Martin, and Airbus A380. This history and knowledge of complex manufacturing and engineering projects have been transferred and further developed into the bulk material handling sector. Matt has work in Europe, North America, Indonesia, and China

He joined the bulk solids and bulk handling industry in 2019 as Managing Director of Hoverdale UK Ltd and subsequently completed a Management buyout in July 2020. The business has grown yearly, increased employment, its customer base, and worldwide reputation, and disrupted the market with groundbreaking innovative technology. Since Matt took over Hoverdale, the company has filed four patents for innovation; one was granted in 2023 for a design to improve bulk handling. The success had been driven by delivering tailored solutions to the waste recycling sectors that keep material flowing out and money flowing in.

Awards Include

  • 2024 – Shapa company of the Year
  • 2024- Shapa Innovation in Technology
  • 2024- MHEA Engineer of the year
  • 2021 – MHEA Innovation of the year
  • 2021- IMechE Innovation award

Current Positions Include.

  • Group Chairman Hoverdale UK Ltd
  • President (MHEA) Material Handling Engineers Association
  • Vice Chairman: IMechE Bulk Material Handling Committee
  • Council Member: (SHAPA) Solids Handling & Particle Association
  • Member: Chartered Management Institute

Matt has been happily married to Julie for 22 years and has 4 children, 3 of which are involved within the Hoverdale group of companies. He is an RFU level 2 qualified coach and referee having been in several head coaching roles at various age groups from under 6’s to adults for his local team Nuneaton RFC. He believes in the core values that rugby teaches of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship and try’s to carry this through in his day to day business activities. He is passionate at brining the next generation of young, diverse engineers into the sector through promotion of apprenticeship scheme and further education routes.

DAVID BARTER

David is an experienced leader, with a background covering Operations, eCommerce, Finance, Compliance, HR and IT. His career spans Banking, Retail and Engineering, spending the majority of his career working for ALDI as they grew to become 4th largest supermarket in the UK, including seven years on their UK board as Managing Director of IT and eCommerce.

David joined Hoverdale’s Senior Management Team in 2023 to seek a fresh challenge in a completely different industry sector. He has applied his approach to Process Improvement, Efficiency, Customer Service and Teamwork to great effect during Hoverdale’s sustained growth.

Married to Jane, with three adult sons between them, David volunteers on the board of the Nottingham Playhouse theatre as well as his local rugby and football clubs. Any spare time he spends enjoying walks with their Golden Retriever, Buzz, who is also regularly seen in the Hoverdale office.

BEN DUCHESNE

Ben is a time serviced field service engineer in the busy waste and recycling sector, who’s career moved into to managing service teams and beyond. Originally beginning his career with a HGV repair and maintenance apprenticeship with IVECO, from there travelling and working in multiple countries moving towards waste processing shredders.

Ben joined the Hoverdale team in September 2024 seeking to apply his extensive knowledge to a new area. His values and ethics fit perfectly within the Hoverdale ethos.

He is happily married to Kristina, with 4 wonderful young children; 14, 11, 8 and 5. We the children he doesn’t get much spare time. He is a family man, who enjoys spending as much time with them as possible.