New Study Explores Biomass as Key to Long-Duration Energy Storage

A new study has underlined the potential for biomass to play a central role in the UK’s energy transition, offering long-duration storage capacity to complement wind and solar power while also delivering negative emissions.

The report, “The Potential Role for Biomass as a Long-duration Store of Energy,” was produced by Cultivate Innovation in partnership with the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) and the Supergen Bioenergy Hub. 

The report explores how sustainably produced biomass could act as an inter-seasonal store of energy, helping to balance renewable generation and support the UK’s net-zero ambitions.

The study examines how biomass could complement other energy storage technologies, particularly during periods of low renewable output, and identifies commercial, economic, environmental, social and technical opportunities for its deployment. 

It stresses that sustainable supply chains, with careful management of land use, biodiversity and carbon impacts are important to ensure that biomass contributes positively to climate goals.

“This report provides a timely and valuable look at how biomass can support the UK’s energy transition,” said Co-Director of UKERC, Dr Jamie Speirs. “As we increase our reliance on renewables, the ability to store energy over long periods becomes essential. Biomass offers unique opportunities to provide that flexibility while also contributing to negative emissions and sustainable resource use”.

“Minimising carbon emissions from our energy system is key to UK energy supply,” added Director of the Supergen Bioenergy Hub, Professor Patricia Thornley. “Biomass is a more significant part of that system than most people realise and realising the flexibility benefits that brings could play a big role in maximising renewable deployment, minimizing emissions and potentially consumer costs as well”.

“Undertaking this study has revealed just how much sustainably produced biomass is currently being used for energy production in the UK,” said founder of Cultivate Innovation and author of the report, Dr Mike Colechin. “It works quietly within the system, providing break crops to farmers, adding to the circular economy by avoiding materials going to waste, and supporting people at a local level, particularly in rural communities. It also stores significant amounts of energy, a characteristic we can use as we transition the economy away from fossil fuels towards a more sustainable future”.

The authors call for further research and coordinated policy action to ensure biomass is deployed in ways that maximise both climate and societal benefits.

This publication builds on a growing body of work across UKERC and Supergen, which have been examining the challenges and opportunities of decarbonising the UK’s energy system.

With the UK committed to achieving net-zero by 2050, biomass could become a vital component of the energy mix, offering flexibility and negative emissions. As renewable deployment accelerates, the ability to store energy over long periods will be critical, and biomass may provide one of the most effective solutions available.

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