Member Article

North East biomass expert chairs key industry talks

A North East based biomass expert will chair a national think-tank on the future of his industry later this month.

Talks at the Biomass Fuel Quality Seminar will be led by Ben Tansey, director and co-founder of re:heat. Organised by the Wood Heat Association, the event will be held in Leeds on 24 September and will be hosted by the international commercial law firm, DWF.

Key industry stakeholders including regulators, equipment installers, manufacturers and fuel distributors will come together to debate the key issues, practical challenges and ways forward for maintaining fuel quality in the UK.

“The economic and environmental benefits of biomass have resulted in a surge of activity in the sector,” explained Ben. “This rapid growth is welcome of course but the sector needs to manage the quality and reputational risks posed by a plethora of new market entrants across the supply chain.

“The Wood Heat Association’s seminar is a timely opportunity to bring key players together to ensure our sector meets the highest possible standards of performance and safety. By securing such integrity, this industry can create hundreds of skilled new jobs by providing low-cost, low-carbon energy solutions to commercial and domestic markets. I’m delighted to chair this debate which is so important to the continued and sustainable growth of the biomass sector.”

Ben’s chairmanship of the seminar sees his Alnwick-based business further establish its national credentials. He previously acted as co-author and lead instructor on the award-winning Ignite programme, the UK’s only accredited wood fuel supply training scheme which has so far seen more than 850 trainees gain qualifications in the industry.

His re:heat co-founder, Neil Harrison, is also vice chair of the Wood Heat Association and earlier this year was a keynote speaker at the International Biomass Conference and Expo held in Minneapolis, USA.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Round Table Solutions Ltd .