Chair: Dan Gates, Director of Uaine Limited.
Secretariat: Virginia Harden, Rural Development Initiatives Ltd
Introduction
Central Scotland Woodfuel Forum was conceived in April 2010,
with its first full meeting in September 2010.
The Central Scotland Woodfuel Forum is facilitated by Rural
Development Initiatives Ltd (RDI), under contract to Forestry
Commission Scotland. RDI provide the Secretariat for the Forum,
arranging meetings and providing information and advice where
required.
The RDI team is led by Claire Glaister who is supported by Ben
Tansey and John Farquhar, all of whom have extensive experience in
the forest and wood fuel sectors.
Aims and objectives
Our aim is to promote the development of wood fuel demand and
supply in the Central Scotland area. Our objectives are to:
- Engage with local media to disseminate positive wood fuel
news.
- Work with training organisations to encourage greater provision
of training within the wood fuel sector.
- Produce a strategy for developing the wood fuel resource within
Central Scotland and examine the establishment of a regional or
national suppliers association.
- Establish stronger working ties between the public and private
sector.
- Introduce standardised fuel delivery across Central Scotland,
including adoption of the HETAS Solid Biomass Assurance
Scheme.
- Build a reliable supply chain from source to installation
within Central Scotland.
- Play a greater role in persuading planning officers to promote
the growth of biomass in the region.
- Investigate the potential for attracting a boiler manufacturer
to set up a factory in the region.
Meetings
We aim to meet three times a year at different locations
throughout the region. Where ever possible the meetings will
include relevant presentations and site visits to existing biomass
projects.
Presentations from past events and meetings will be
available here.
Details of future meetings will be posted below.
Contact details
For further information, or to join the forum, please contact
Virginia Harden, Rural Development Initiatives Ltd: forums@usewoodfuel.co.uk