Biomass Research Programme

DESNZ is seeking to procure a contractor to provide research services for a four-year Biomass Research Programme. The programme will advance scientific understanding of the role and potential of biomass and bioenergy in supporting climate change mitigation, enhancing energy security, and de-risking the delivery of net zero.

It will include research on:

Lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of biomass feedstocks and bioenergy systems Biomass availability and demand across sectors Sustainability criteria and environmental impacts Co-benefits and trade-offs including biodiversity, air and water quality Economic modelling of biomass-derived fuels and materials The bioeconomy and its potential for growth and decarbonisation The following skills and expertise are considered particularly important for this work: Geospatial modelling Spatial data analysis Modelling climate scenarios Scientific research Scientific analysis Policy development Economic research The project will additionally require strong project management capability to support the delivery of this research.

Outputs are likely to include:

Reports, policy briefings, and technical annexes Updated models (e.g. UK & Global Bioenergy Resource Model) Seminars, workshops, and teach-ins Data sets and scenario analyses to inform policy decisions The programme will be delivered through seven work packages (WP), covering:

WP1: Programme Management

WP2: Biomass Lifecycle Analysis

WP3: Feedstock Availability

WP4: Biomass Feedstocks for Industry

WP5: Biomass Sustainability Framework (with co-benefits & trade-offs)

WP6: Analyses of the Bioeconomy

WP7: A Flexible Fund for emerging evidence needs

DESNZ is holding a supplier event on MS Teams on 13.01.2026, consisting of a presentation by DESNZ followed by Q&A.