ARCHIVE: Observatory monitoring framework – indicator data sheet

Environmental impact: Climate change

Indicator DD3: Net energy derived from agricultural biomass

This chart shows the electricity generated from farm waste and biomass, and the heat generated on farm by burning straw, in thousand tonnes of oil equivalent (TOE).


  • The generation of electricity from farm waste and biomass remained at around 68 thousand TOE between 1993 and 1998, but then increased markedly. Between 1998 and 2006 the amount of electricity generated from these sources increased by 250%.
  • There have been further increases in each of the last 3 years. Between 2008 and 2009, the generation of electricity from farm waste and biomass increased by 35% to 596 thousand tonnes TOE.
  • Generation of heat from plant and animal biomass has increased by 6% to 243 TOE between 2008 and 2009.

This indicator was updated in September 2010. The next update will be in September 2011.

Further information and contact

Background information can be found in the accompanying fact sheet.

This is also a Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy Indicator

For further queries or information on this indicator contact Defra's Observatory team on +44 (0) 1904 455229, email: observatory@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Fact Sheet | Printable Version (PDF) | Background Data (Excel)

Page last modified: 10 November, 2010
Page published: June, 2007

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