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.