The UK is the biggest importer in the world of biomass, and last year the fuel powered 6.5% per cent of the National Grid.
But environmentalists are urging the government to take another look at the use of biomass; burning wood contributes to deforestation meaning less carbon dioxide is absorbed. Burning biomass also releases large amounts of pollutants in a similar manner to burning other solid fuels such as coal.
Data shared with Sky News from think tank Ember shows that two UK power stations got just over a billion pounds in subsidies and were excused from paying carbon taxes totalling over £300 million pounds.
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