A focal point for the community to support ambitious scaling up of the bioenergy industry and scale of planting

Demonstration and knowledge-sharing hubs to showcase best practice and innovations in land-based biomass feedstock production

Robust, independent information on biomass feedstock performance, agronomy, economics and environmental benefits

British Renewable Energy Awards

Pioneer Winner 2023

Biomass Connect has been named the winner of the prestigious Pioneer Award at the British Renewable Energy Awards.

Building a UK wide, cohesive, regionally based community to develop and operate the platform

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We produce a newsletter and other regular communication to share relevant information and the Platform’s activities.

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The European Bioenergy Future 2024 (EBF2024)

Location: Brussels

The European Bioenergy Future (EBF) conference will return on 20 – 21 November 2024 at BluePoint Brussels (Blvd Auguste Reyers 80, 1030), with a rich programme and interesting pre- and […]

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Cockle Park Farm Demonstrator Hub Update – October 2024

At Cockle Park Farm, crops are progressing steadily. Overall health remains good, with no significant pest or disease issues reported. Maintenance activities, including regular fence monitoring and grass cutting, ensure a controlled environment for crop growth.

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Presentation: Eddy Covariance

At our October Demo Event at Mysercough College, near Preston, experts from UKCEH and PBC4GGR provided live demonstrations of eddy covariance towers for monitoring carbon fluxes and led sessions on soil carbon testing and biodiversity monitoring.

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Biomass Connect: Biomass Innovation and Information Platform

Biomass is the organic material from living organisms. In the context of Biomass Connect, the term refers to non-food crops where the whole aboveground plant biomass is harvested and used for a range of purposes including heat and electricity, fuel for transport, platform chemicals, and a range of construction, packaging, and cosmetic applications. Biomass crops are fast-growing, with a high potential energy content or calorific value.

Biomass Connect is a demonstration and knowledge-sharing initiative to showcase best practice and innovations in land-based biomass feedstock production. We seek to share knowledge and experiences that can make a significant contribution to agricultural, environmental and bioenergy policy development, practical on-farm advances, and overall growth in the UK’s biomass sector. The project also compares crop/variety performance in regions across the UK and demonstrates innovations which have the potential to maximise their economic and environmental benefits.

Biomass Connect Showcase Event

showcase event

Harnessing Innovation, the Future of Biomass

It was fantastic to see so many of you at the Biomass Connect Showcase event last week! Thanks to everyone who came, contributed, and made it such a valuable experience.

The event showcased the latest innovations in biomass production and processing emerging from the Biomass Feedstocks Innovation Programme and included presentations and practical workshop sessions from a wide range of speakers from all areas of the biomass industry. The robot was of course a big hit too.

We’re currently going through all of the presentations, audio files, photos and videos from the event and hope to bring you as much of it as we can via the website over the coming weeks.

The full programme and list of speakers are available on the Showcase Event page, we’ll be adding to this with content from the event soon. Stay tuned for updates.

 

Eight demonstration hubs are located across the UK, in Ceredigion, South Ayrshire, Buckinghamshire, Devon, Edinburgh, County Down, Northumberland and Yorkshire.

Biomass Feedstocks Innovation

£32m of funding has enabled 12 organisations, including 7 small and medium-sized enterprises, to deliver commercially viable innovations in biomass production.

Crop information

Biomass crops vary greatly in size and form, ranging from towering 30-meter trees to fast-growing grasses. While they typically demand limited inputs and minimal cultivation, specific requirements vary among different crops, soil types, and climates (the impacts of different soils and regional climate variations is one reason we have our demonstrator hub sites distributed around the UK). Explore the Crop Information section of this website for comprehensive details on biomass crops featured in the Biomass Connect trials, as well as other promising candidates. 

What’s On

Check out our diary of events and demos.

20
Nov
The European Bioenergy Future (EBF) conference will return on 20 – 21 November 2024 at BluePoint Brussels (Blvd Auguste Reyers 80, 1030), with a rich programme and interesting pre- and […]
21
Nov
Join Miscanthus Nursery Ltd. for a morning dedicated to exploring the latest developments and innovations in Miscanthus cultivation and processing. Event Details Date: Thursday, 21st November Time: Welcome coffee at […]
21
Nov
Emerging carbon markets promise new income streams for farmers. But where do you start? Sequestering carbon is essential in every scenario for tackling climate change, so this is an opportunity […]
What's On
Demonstrator Hub Updates
November 20, 2024
Cockle Park Farm Demonstrator Hub Update – October 2024
At Cockle Park Farm, crops are progressing steadily. Overall health remains good, with no significant pest or disease issues reported. Maintenance activities, including regular fence monitoring and grass cutting, ensure a controlled environment for crop growth.
Read more
Demonstrator Hub Updates
November 20, 2024
North Wyke Demonstrator Hub Update – October 2024
Crops at the North Wyke Biomass Connect Demonstration Hub have shown mixed performance through October.
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News from the Biomass World
November 14, 2024
Welsh Government Launches Agricultural Diversification and Horticulture Scheme with Support for Biomass Crop Growers
The Welsh Government has launched a new Agricultural Diversification and Horticulture Scheme designed to support farmers and land managers in diversifying their agricultural activities. This initiative provides significant opportunities for those interested […]
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Demonstrator Hub Updates
November 13, 2024
Demonstrator Hub Updates – September 2024
Across the Biomass Connect demonstrator hubs, varieties are progressing well into the season. Most sites reported healthy growth for core species, with limited pest and disease activity overall.
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