Green Investment Bank could support biofuel testing

Biofuel testing - whether it consists of assessing specific biofuel composition or analysing the potential of installations - could gain from the government's announcement of a Green Investment Bank.

The Green Investment Bank was outlined in the coalition's programme for government, published shortly after the formation of the collaboration between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

However, in this week's Comprehensive Spending Review, chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne specified its budget as being at least £1 billion, with more to be raised through private-sector contributions.

Blane Judd, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, welcomes the announcement.

He says: "This is great from the public's point of view and the environment's point of view."

The move might be expected to lead to new biofuel testing to make the most of the opportunities presented by the renewable resource.

A particular focus could be on the use of biodiesel as a home heating fuel as the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme is launched.