UK firms win £1.3m to generate bioenergy from wetlands

Three British companies have been awarded a share of more than £1.3 million to help turn reeds and rushes from wetlands into bioenergy. Natural Synergies, AMW IBERS and AB Systems […]

Three British companies have been awarded a share of more than £1.3 million to help turn reeds and rushes from wetlands into bioenergy.

Natural Synergies, AMW IBERS and AB Systems will use the cash to test their project designs in three wetland areas in the UK, including Somerset, Suffolk and Inverness.

Wetland areas are currently maintained in several parts of Britain to provide habitats for a range of wildlife and the harvested material from these sites can be used to produce energy.

The Government believes sustainably sources bioenergy has an important part to play in the UK’s future energy mix, with the potential to contribute around 11% of the UK’s energy demand by 2020.

Energy Minister Greg Barker said: “The ability to turn plant material – that would otherwise have been burned or left to decompose – into a sustainable energy source is an important part of the move towards a low carbon economy.

“I wish the winning organisations every success with their projects. These valuable initiatives will help to bring down the costs of this clean, green technology.”

This is the third round of funding issues as part of DECC’s Wetland Biomass to Bioenergy competition which was launched in October 2012 and is scheduled to finish in March 2015.

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