Biomass: Nascent sector tipped to go mainstream despite doubts

Everyone knows the comforting glow of a roaring log fire. This traditional form of heating is coming back on an industrial scale as a new form of renewable power. Biomass biological matter derived from sources including wood, plants and some types of agricultural waste is already widely used in Europe to generate heat and electricity.

With many coal plants due to be phased out to meet environmental legislation in Europe, utilities are looking to co-fire coal with biomass or convert their plants to burn only the latter. A recent report by Bain & Company, the consultancy, forecasts that global demand for biomass will grow at a compound annual rate of 9 per cent to 2020 ... READ MORE

Released by the Financial Times - 28 January 2013