Biomass
The Daily Mail City team explain what biomass is and how burning more of it could help reduce the UK's carbon dioxide emissions.
Obesity?
No, it's not a new PC way of calling someone fat. Biomass is the name for biological material derived from living or recently living organisms. Think plant-based stuff like trees, wood or crops that are ready to burn in power stations.
Why should I care?
Energy companies including Drax Group would like to burn more biomass materials instead of coal as a way of reducing their emissions of carbon dioxide - which is given off when fossil fuels are burned. Britain has signed up to reduce its emissions of CO² into the earth's atmosphere.
What's the big deal?
Britain will have to spend about £200bn over the next decade if it is to stand any chance of cutting CO² emissions in line with government targets. Burning more biomass could be one way to do it. But it's harder to handle than coal, needs dedicated storage and can create lots of unsavoury dust.
Is biomass making a difference?
It is, but only at a very low level. Drax generated around 7% of the UK's total renewable power in 2010 by burning biomass. But the company won't spend any more money without government and regulatory support to encourage a shift away from coal.
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