Utilising straw for biomass represents one of the most efficient methods of its disposal and pre-empts the need for it to be ploughed back into the land
For some time, biomass has been seen as the emerging sibling of the renewable energy industry.
Despite much of the development behind the industry's technology worldwide, the UK's position at the front of the biomass revolution has been slipping.
Developers have naturally concentrated on cheaper forms of alternative energy, chiefly onshore wind, whilst other countries have stolen a march, with the Chinese particularly active by building hundreds of stations based on UK power plant models.
In recent months, however, we have seen something of a change in the UK, with a backlash against many more established alternative energy sources.
In the transport sector, biofuels have been attacked for their effect on food prices and actual carbon reductions, while wind has been criticised for its inability to produce a consistent stream of electricity and for its cost.
Many industry experts are now suggesting that biomass has to play the primary role in helping the EU to meet its challenging target of generating 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
Burning ambitions
Biomass works by converting (normally through burning) biodegradable matter such as wood, straw and agricultural wastes into heat or electricity.
Emissions from transporting feedstock can wipe out carbon savings
Because it uses organic materials, any carbon dioxide released during the generation of energy is offset by that absorbed during the plant's life, so the process as a whole is broadly balanced, or "carbon neutral".