Barriers to and drivers for UK bioenergy development

• Published in: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 1217 - 1227
• Main Authors: Adams, P.W., Hammond, G.P., McManus, M.C., Mezzullo, W.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2011; Elsevier
• Series: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Araneae; Barriers; Bioenergy; Bioenergy Biofuels Biomass Barriers Drivers UK; bioenergy industry; Biofuels; Biomass; Carbon; case studies; Developers; Drivers; Economic data; economic factors; Economics; emissions; End users; Energy; Energy economics; Energy policy; Exact sciences and technology; farmers; fossil fuels; General, economic and professional studies; issues and policy; Natural energy; production costs; purchasing; questionnaires; stakeholders; Suppliers; United Kingdom; Europe; British Isles; Bioenergy; Biomass; Drivers; Biofuels; Barriers; UK; Incentive; Obstacle; Power production; Energy policy; Market penetration
• ISSN: 1364-0321; 1879-0690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2010.09.039

Barriers to UK bioenergy development arise from a number of technical, financial, social and other constraints. Likewise, the drivers for using bioenergy are numerous and diverse. A range of these barriers and drivers have been identified through a comprehensive literature and case study review, and then assessed through an online questionnaire, completed by stakeholders from across the UK bioenergy industry: farmers/suppliers, developers/owners of bioenergy projects, primary end-users, and government/policy stakeholders. The results are presented in the form of ‘spider web’ diagrams. The most critical barriers and drivers relate to economic factors of bioenergy projects. Farmers/suppliers and developers are influenced by production costs and benefits, whilst primary end-users of bioenergy are concerned mainly with the cost of purchasing energy resources. Common drivers for all stakeholders were found to be reducing carbon emissions and the dependency on fossil fuels. In order to satisfy the needs of stakeholders schemes must be both economically attractive and environmentally sustainable for projects to be successful.