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Energy Bill

moved Amendment No. 37: 37: Clause 37, page 31, line 27, at end insert ““and set out acceptable circumstances for the growing of ““biomass”””” The noble Lord said: The amendment would require the Secretary of State to set out the circumstances which are acceptable for growing biomass. Biomass can play an important role in our energy supply but it is equally important to know that it must not come at too high a price. The conditions under which biomass is grown have a profound impact on what is good about it; that is, its sustainability. If arable land is being used to produce biomass in such a way that puts pressure on food production, the result would do more harm than good, especially in the developing world—much in the same way as the cultivation of biofuels devastated rainforests. Yet this technology is developing rapidly and some of the concerns to which I refer might be allayed. For example, cellulosic biomass is already being developed, which distinguishes between the biomass bit and the food bit in the same product. Additionally, there are signs of promise in the cultivation of biomass in terrain which is unsuitable to food production such as land adjacent to deserts. The technology will develop and the best methods should be encouraged. The Government should have the power to decide which ways of producing biomass are acceptable and which are not. In some ways, this is a rather small change to this section, but it is a change that has the potential to make a large impact. The Minister in another place said that the Bill contains the powers necessary to designate certain types of production of biomass as unacceptable should their sustainability come into question—this seems reasonable. However, will the Minister be more specific about the mechanisms at the Government’s disposal to do so? It would also be interesting to know what information the Minister received on the problem of ensuring the sustainability of biomass. Is there a way of monitoring its production? I understand that, under the renewables obligation, generators will be required to report on the nature, quantity and source of biomass. I further understand that it will be Ofgem’s responsibility to publish this information. Will Ofgem have a further responsibility for assessing it? How will the concerns about sustainability be triggered? Does it require a vigilant public or is there a statutory requirement to ensure its sustainability? I am sure that my concerns about the sustainability of biomass will be shared by noble Lords from all sides. Just how we go about ensuring that the production of biomass is sustainable seems to require further explanation.