REA launches wood heat trade body

Biomass heating is to get its own trade body in readiness for the sector’s expansion as subsidies to support green heat kick in.

The Renewable Energy Association (REA) will officially launch the affiliated Wood Heat Association (WHA) at the All-Energy Exhibition in Aberdeen on Thursday.

Wood is the fastest growing source of low carbon heating under the government’s renewable heat incentive (RHI), a financial support scheme which was extended to domestic customers last month. The RHI is intended to do for green heat what the feed-in tariff does for green power.

The WHA will be chaired by Julian Morgan-Jones, managing director of South East Wood Fuels and represent equipment manufacturers, installers and fuel producers for the emerging sector. The REA will provide back office and policy support until such time as the WHA requires its own executive team.

Morgan-Jones said: “This is an exciting time for the wood heat industry. Wood heat is rapidly becoming one of the major players in UK renewables. As the industry grows, it is increasingly important to establish a clear identity and a strong voice to government and stakeholders. The REA is already doing great work here so there’s no need to reinvent the wheel, which is why we are very happy to be working with them.”

Biomass heating accounted for 56 per cent of investment and 90 per cent of energy generation in the first two years of the non-domestic RHI. It is the cheapest technology supported under the scheme, which also backs heat pumps and geothermal installations.

There are some 700 companies in the wood heat supply chain, employing around 13,500 people.

“Our number one focus is securing the future of the RHI beyond 2016,” said Morgan-Jones. “Beyond that, we are also working to professionalise the industry so it is well equipped to tackle the challenges ahead. An important first step is to raise awareness and standards across the wood heat supply chain: from boiler design, manufacture and installation to the safety, quality and sustainability of wood fuel. Together we’re seeking to encourage more joined up thinking between fuel suppliers and equipment installers.”

Renewable heat generation as a whole needs to grow by 18 per cent a year to meet the UK’s indicative target of 12 per cent by 2020, according to the REA. Between 2009 and 2012, the sector’s output grew by 11.3 per cent a year.

Nina Skorupska, REA chief executive, said: “One of the REA’s key objectives is to empower its members to achieve sustainable growth. As individual technology sectors reach that tipping point, they begin need a more distinct voice to government and stakeholders, with dedicated resources, to keep the momentum going. We are giving the wood heat industry that extra level of support to achieve exactly that.

“The REA consistently champions the benefits of all renewable energy sources, which all help reduce our reliance on imported and polluting fossil fuels while offering exciting opportunities for jobs and growth in innovative businesses. The WHA will drill down more deeply into the specific benefits of wood heating as a key part of a sustainable bio-based economy, helping households and businesses cut their heating costs as well as their environmental impacts.”