UK launches biomass hydrogen support scheme

Funding made available for technology offering chance of negative emissions

The UK government has launched a funding scheme to support technologies that produce hydrogen from sustainable biomass and waste. Businesses, research institutions and universities can now bid for a share of £5mn ($6.8mn) of government funding under the first phase of the ‘Hydrogen Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (Beccs) Innovation Programme.’ The Beccs process produces hydrogen from biomass and waste using gasification. Solid organic material is heated to more than 700°C without being allowed to combust, releasing hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide then reacts with water to form carbon dioxide and more hydrogen. The CO₂ can then be transported and stored underground