The UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has recently announced that £4 million of the £1 billion net zero innovation fund will be used to support organisations to increase the production of biomass feedstocks in the UK.
A total of 24 projects will receive funding of up to £200,000 each to increase the production of biomass for the generation of green energy, an initiative the UK Government recognises to be part of the answer for tackling climate change.
Biomass materials such as grasses, hemp, timber waste and seaweed can also be used to create chemicals and bio-plastics.
Aberystwyth University has received £160,000 for its Miscanspeed Project which is looking at ways to improve the breeding of high-yielding, resilient Miscanthus or Elephant Grass that are well-suited for biomass production in the UK.
It is hoped that this strategy will reduce the demand for imported biomass products and that the 24 projects will support rural economies and jobs.