What is biomass combined heat and power? A biomass combined heat and power (CHP) system is an engine designed to generate energy using biomass. CHP is effectively a small-scale power station with heat reclamation and minimal distribution losses due to its close proximity to the load. In this way it offers the potential for considerably improved generation efficiency with implicit carbon and cost savings benefits. The plants can achieve a total efficiency of 80–90%, whereas in conventional condensing power plants the efficiency in electricity production remains around 40%. Figure 1—schematic of a biomass CHP system (source: WSP) The use of biomass, rather than natural gas, the most commonly used fuel type in conventional CHP, translates the energy generated from merely sustainable to being renewable energy. Key conditions for development When determining the feasibility of biomass CHP all the different technology options need careful consideration. Systems need to be precisely specified based on the ratio and extent of heat and power requirements. The biomass fuel type being used also needs to be taken into account as

Biomass fuel Biomass is a generic term for organic material derived from plants or plant derived materials used to produce heat, electricity or transport fuel and is regarded as being less carbon-intensive than fossil fuels. Biomass as a fuel for power/heat generation projects involves using biological material from, for example: • waste and clean/recycled wood, eg forestry residues, landscaping remains and wood chips.(waste wood is graded A, B C and D by reference to the Wood Recyclers Association grading table: Grade A – pre-consumer waste wood and wood packaging (clean/untreated), Grade B – Industrial waste wood – (treated/non-hazardous), Grade C – Municipal Waste Wood – Treated/non-hazardous; and Grade D – Hazardous waste wood • specifically grown energy crops that are grown to be converted into energy, including maize, grass, miscanthus (elephant grass) • residues from forestry/agriculture To be economically viable, the developer of a generation plant using biomass as its principle fuel source should have in place one or more reliable biomass fuel supply agreements. Exclusivity of supply can assist with viability of a biomass generation facility.

Scope This Practice Note considers the technical, environmental and economic aspects of biomass heating. For a consideration of biomass combined heat and power, see Practice Note: Combined heat and power—technology. What is biomass heating? Biomass heating is the combustion of organic (non-fossil) material to generate heat. In theory there are many potential fuel sources, including: • animal dung • domestic and industrial waste • biodiesel, and • wood Biomass heating is considered very low carbon and is considered a major part of the UK’s plans to reduce carbon emissions. The focus of this note is on commercial scale technologies used commonly in the UK using biomass in the form of wood chips or pellets, but most information will also be applicable to domestic situations. Wood chips and pellets are two common types of biomass fuel. • Wood pellets—are manufactured from sawdust in a cylindrical shape and have higher levels of consistency than wood chips. Wood pellets are more compact and easier to handle. Another major benefit of wood pellets is that their greater energy density means that

What is a Biometric Immigration Document? A Biometric Immigration Document (BID) is the key ‘document’ that enables the holder to evidence their biometric and biographical information, immigration status, any conditions of stay, and entitlement to public funds in the UK. It can also confirm the holder’s national insurance number (for persons on Worker routes) and chargeable status for NHS treatment. Further to the transition to digital status, all BIDs are now issued in electronic form as an eVisa. An eVisa is an electronic record of status. The holder must have an online UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account in order for them and authorised third parties to be able to access their eVisa. A person can access their eVisa, once they have a UKVI account, using the view and prove immigration status link on GOV.UK. When their leave expires or is cancelled, this link will no longer be accessible. Third parties such as employers and landlords can also be granted access to view a person status via a ‘share code’. Until 31 October 2024 many

A physical document issued to a migrant by the Home Office containing the holder’s biometric and biographical information. It also confirms details of their right to reside, study or work in the UK and of their entitlement to public services or benefits. Abbreviated to BRP.

What is biometric excuse or predetermination? Where an applicant is unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre (VAC) due to the journey being dangerous or impossible, they can request biometric pre-determination or biometric excuse. Biometric pre-determination is a request for the application to be considered prior to biometric enrolment. If the application is determined positively, the applicant will be required to attend a VAC to enrol their biometrics before entering the UK. If the applicant requests Biometric excuse and it is positively decided, the applicant will be allowed to enter the UK and will be expected to enrol their biometrics after entry. For more information on application processes see Practice Note: Procedure for applying from overseas. Procedure After submitting their substantive immigration application, applicants will need to submit an online request to Contact UKVI which, at the time of writing attracts a small fee. They will need to provide their Global Web Form (GWF) number attached to the application/s, their names, dates of births, contact details and a brief

A card or sticker or any other method of recording information about a person's external physical characteristics.

Law360, London: Regulators in the US and EU delivered some welcome news to the pharmaceutical industry last week by jointly releasing a set of agreed-upon principles intended to guide the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in drug development.

A medicinal product that is similar to a biological medicinal product (the originator or ‘reference’ product) that has already been granted a authorisation'>marketing authorisation in the EEA, but which does not meet the definition of a generic medicinal product owing, in particular, to differences in raw materials or manufacturing processes.

This Practice Note explains what so-called ‘biosimilars’—that is similar biological medicinal products—are. It summarises the commercial importance of biosimilars and describes some of the issues faced by biosimilar manufacturers and biologic originator companies. It describes the UK and EU regulatory framework for these products and discusses biosimilar marketing authorisations (MAs), pharmacovigilance monitoring and the manufacture and market access of biosimilars, eg pricing and reimbursement considerations. It also briefly considers the position in the US and sets out the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) procedures for biosimilars. It also considers some of the patent issues regarding biosimilars, including the application of the Bolar-type exemption, considerations on the ‘clearing the way’ principle and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and scope for development of its jurisprudence relating to biosimilars. What is a biosimilar? A biosimilar is a biological medicinal product that is similar to a biological medicinal product (the originator product, also known as the reference medicinal product) that has already been granted a MA

This Practice Note sets out which biotechnological inventions can and cannot be patented. It refers to Directive 98/44/EC (often known as the Biotechnology Directive) and Schedule A2 to the Patents Act 1977 (PA 1977), which permit biotechnological inventions to be patented but provide some important exceptions. These exceptions have been subject to interpretation by the Court of Justice in cases such as Oliver Brüstle v Greenpeace and Monsanto v Cefetra. This Practice Note also considers the exclusions to patentability under Article 52(b) of the European Patent Convention (EPC) and the relevant European Patent Office (EPO) case law, Tomatoes I, Tomatoes II and Broccoli II. Finally, it considers the 2017 European Commission Notice on biotechnological inventions. Patenting biotechnological inventions Biotechnological inventions are, in principle, patentable. While there is no general exclusion against them in PA 1977 or the EPC, there are specific rules governing the patentability of such inventions (see: The regulatory framework for biotechnology patents below). Further, in practice, certain biotechnological inventions, while not necessarily specifically

Law360: A flight attendant with bipolar disorder revived her claims of disability discrimination against CAE Crewing Services after the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) concluded that the tribunal hearing the claims misinterpreted a vicarious liability law.