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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Terravesta – Miscanthus Harvest Open Day

Location: Hackthorne

@ Hackthorn, Lincolnshire, UK Hackthorne This event co-hosted by Terravesta and the Centre for High Carbon Capture Cropping (CHCx3) led by NIAB, will explore Miscanthus harvesting methods, financial returns for […]

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Demonstrator Hub Updates – January 2025

The past few months have presented a mix of challenges and progress across the Biomass Connect Demonstrator Hubs. Harsh winter conditions, including prolonged periods of frost, heavy rainfall, and multiple storms—most notably Storm Éowyn—have tested the resilience of crops.

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Chester Zoo: Fodder production from Short Rotation Coppice willows

This case study explores the use of willow as fodder for animals at Chester Zoo. It delves into their planting and harvesting regimes, the browse preferences of the various animals and the economics of the operation.

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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! 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.

26
Feb
@ Hackthorn, Lincolnshire, UK Hackthorne This event co-hosted by Terravesta and the Centre for High Carbon Capture Cropping (CHCx3) led by NIAB, will explore Miscanthus harvesting methods, financial returns for […]
27
Feb
Join Innovative Farmers for the latest feeding willow to livestock network webinar. This webinar will feature farmers, Tom Fairfax & Dr Nigel Kendall to discuss results of this field lab […]
05
Mar
The Low Carbon Agriculture Show is the UK’s only event dedicated to showcasing low-carbon practices, cutting-edge technology, and energy solutions for a sustainable farming future. This vibrant business event brings together […]
What's On
Demonstrator Hub Updates
February 12, 2025
Demonstrator Hub Updates – January 2025
The past few months have presented a mix of challenges and progress across the Biomass Connect Demonstrator Hubs. Harsh winter conditions, including prolonged periods of frost, heavy rainfall, and multiple storms—most notably Storm Éowyn—have tested the resilience of crops.
Read more
News from the Biomass World
February 10, 2025
Public Accounts Committee Opens Inquiry on Government Support for Biomass
The Public Accounts Committee has launched an inquiry into the Government's support for biomass and is currently accepting evidence from stakeholders until February 13th, 2025.
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News from the Biomass World
February 03, 2025
Defra Landuse Consultation: Have Your Say on Land Use and Biomass Policy
The UK government has initiated a comprehensive consultation on England's land use, aiming to balance the nation's needs for food production, housing, renewable energy, and environmental conservation. This consultation seeks input from various stakeholders, including those in the biomass sector, to inform the development of a Land Use Framework.
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News
December 18, 2024
Connect Issue #8
Issue #7 of the Connect Newsletter is now available. The Connect Newsletters contain updates on project activities, details of the latest events, and news from across the wider biomass industry.
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