Wood heat conference 2014

Wood heat is the cornerstone of the Government’s plan to transition from old-fashioned and polluting forms of heating to modern, low carbon technologies. Over 2,000 homes and nearly 6,000 businesses have switched to wood heat since the launch of the Renewable Heat Incentive, but this is just the tip of the iceberg for wood heat in the UK.

With the support of the Renewable Energy Association, the Wood Heat Association seeks to give a united voice to the modern wood heat industry. The WHA is bringing together the whole industry –fuel producers and traders, boiler manufacturers and installers, and project funders and developers – and this is exactly what is happening next month at the WHA’s inaugural annual conference.

Wood Heat 2014 will take place at the Great North Museum in Newcastle on 20-21 November. UK and international experts from academia, Government, industry and regulatory agencies will share their experience and expertise in developing biomass markets. Sub-titled ‘Raising our Standard,’ topics at the Wood Heat 2014 will include:

WHA Interim Chairman Julian Morgan-Jones said:

“The wood heat industry is a really exciting place to be right now and becoming a major player in UK renewable energy, transforming the way we heat our homes and businesses. As an industry, we need to be responsible, learn lessons from past experiences and ensure everyone working in this exciting industry has the knowledge, skills and standards we need to achieve sustainable growth. That’s what this conference is all about. I’m looking forward to finding out first-hand what our members and the industry think about the way forward for wood heat.”

The Conference is organised in conjunction with the Renewable Energy Association, the UK’s largest trade association, which represents all sub-sectors of UK renewable energy: renewable heat, power transport and organics recycling.

REA Chief Executive Dr Nina Skorupska said:

“More and more homes and businesses are turning away from gas and oil and towards wood heating because of the support available under the Renewable Heat Incentive, and because wood heating insulates our energy bills from price spikes in international fossil fuels markets. With stable Government policy, the biomass heat industry will be able to invest in developing skills, standards and supply chains, enabling it to become a major driver of economically and environmentally sustainable growth in the UK.”

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Neil Harrison| Wood Heat Association | Tel: +44 (0)1665 665 040 | Email: neil@reheat.uk.com

To register for the 2014 Wood Heat Conference

Or for more information, please visit: www.regonline.co.uk/woodheat2014

Notes to editors

The Wood Heat Association supports the needs of organisations and individuals providing services in the rapidly growing modern wood heating market. Its mission is to co-ordinate, represent, inform, lobby and promote the interests of its members, as directed by the members. For more information, visit: www.woodheatassociation.org.uk

The Renewable Energy Association represents renewable energy producers and promotes the use of all forms of renewable energy in the UK across power, heat, transport and renewable gas. It is the largest renewable energy trade association in the UK, with approximately 1,000 members, ranging from major multinationals to sole traders.

For more information, visit: www.r-e-a.net