Common Biomass Sustainability Framework Consultation

Overview

Common Biomass Sustainability Framework Consultation

A consultation on proposals for developing a cross-sector biomass sustainability framework to enable greater consistency across sectors and strengthen criteria in line with latest evidence.

Why your views matter

Why we are consulting

Biomass plays an important role in our energy system and in meeting our decarbonisation goals, generating around 10% of the UK’s total energy supply across the power, domestic and non-domestic heat and transport sectors in 2024. The government only incentivises the use of biomass if it complies with relevant sustainability criteria as defined within existing support schemes and policies across multiple bioenergy sectors.

However, we are conscious of concerns around biomass sustainability and the need for levels of sustainability that are in line with latest scientific evidence or global best practice. For biomass to continue to play a role in supporting the government’s ambitions to be a clean energy superpower and accelerate towards net zero by 2050, confidence in the sustainability of biomass must be improved. It is essential that effective sustainability standards coupled with robust monitoring, reporting and verification regimes continue to underpin biomass use in the UK to ensure positive environmental, economic and social impacts, both domestically and internationally.

This consultation is seeking views on the development of a common biomass sustainability framework, which includes proposals for strengthening existing biomass sustainability criteria in line with latest evidence as well as improvements to current monitoring, reporting and verification practices, and sets out guiding principles for addressing non-compliance. It aims to provide a consistent view on biomass sustainability across all relevant bioenergy sectors.

Consultation details

Issued: 2 December 2025

Respond by: 27 February 2026

Confidentiality and data protection

Information you provide in response to this consultation, including personal information, may be disclosed in accordance with UK legislation (the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004).

If you want the information that you provide to be treated as confidential please tell us, but be aware that we cannot guarantee confidentiality in all circumstances. An automatic confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system will not be regarded by us as a confidentiality request.

We will process your personal data in accordance with all applicable data protection laws. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero may share consultation responses with the Department for Science Innovation and Technology who are carrying out analysis of consultation responses using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool. The AI tool processes data securely and does not copy or share data. The data will only be accessed and used by those authorised to do so. We will summarise all responses and publish this summary on GOV.UK. The summary will include a list of names or organisations that responded, but not people’s personal names, addresses or other contact details.

Quality assurance

This consultation has been carried out in accordance with the government’s consultation principles.

If you have any complaints about the way this consultation has been conducted, please email: bru@energysecurity.gov.uk.