Welsh Environment Minister Jane Davidson today unveiled a new plan to lessen Wales’ reliance on fossil fuels and increase the use of renewable, low-carbon energy sources. The Bioenergy Action Plan for Wales aims to generate at least 5 terawatt hours of electricity, about 20% of Wale’s current needs, from renewable biomass by 2020. It also aims to have biomass provide 2.5 terawatt hours of usable heat energy, about 3% of current needs.

This will result in a reduction of about 3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year in comparison with generation based on fossil fuels. The minister also claims that this plan will create new jobs. Biomass is organic material that can be used to create renewable energy. This includes plants, trees and vegetations, as well as sewage and animal waste. Biomass is ‘carbon neutral’, in that the amount of carbon it absorbs while growing is the same as the amount it produces when burned.

Ms Davidson said “Climate change is a reality we have to face and exploiting a mix of available energy resources is vital. Biomass has the potential to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, whilst at the same time cutting our carbon emissions.”