Woodfuel, a form of biomass, represents one of the most efficient means of achieving carbon reduction targets, stimulating rural economies, bringing woodlands into beneficial management and alleviating fuel poverty. Woodfuel is the pre-eminent renewable energy source in many European countries and is a growing market in the UK, with support from a wide range of central, regional and local government policy and financial instruments.
An expanding woodfuel sector requires support to develop capacity in the supply chain, promote best practice in sustainable woodland management and facilitate uptake. RDI has been working at the forefront of developing the sector in the UK since 2005, having developed a series of innovative and award winning programmes that have helped to drive forward the woodfuel supply chain and accelerate the uptake of biomass heating systems.
Market Acceleration and Supply Chain Development
Creating a sustainable woodfuel sector requires support to both the market and supply chain, including promotion, awareness raising, facilitation and encouragement of collaborative action. RDI manages a number of regional and local projects which utilise these tools to grow markets and strengthen supply chains.
Delegated Grant Schemes
The woodfuel sector is able to access public investment support for both supply chain development and installations. RDI manage a number of delegated grant schemes on behalf of public sector clients, ensuring schemes are implemented in an efficient, transparent and appropriate manner.
Events, Training and the UK's Woodfuel Expo
RDI is the UK’s leading provider of woodfuel supply chain training and event management, both undertaken with the purpose of supporting best practice and raising awareness.
Since its inception in 2004, Ignite has introduced businesses and individuals across the UK to the fundamentals of wood fuel production and supply. Constantly revised and updated to keep abreast of ever-changing policy, as well as technical developments in the industry, the Ignite programme consists of a number of training courses on the production and supply of woodfuel. The original three day Woodfuel Supply Chain course has been supplemented by other courses as demand has been identified. The contribution that Ignite has made to the development of the UK woodfuel sector was recognised with a National Training Award in 2006.
RDI organise a wide range of bespoke woodfuel events, from short introductory CPD sessions through international study tours to the UK’s first woodfuel expo - Ignition09.
Consultancy
In addition to developing and managing projects directly, RDI is able to utilise the experience gained to the benefit of other providers and clients by offering consultancy services, including the preparation of feasibility studies, business plans, funding applications and evaluation studies.
These can relate to project design and delivery, resource utilisation, market development and business support. Clients supported include national government agencies to small rural councils, from the South of England to the Outer Hebrides.
Other Projects
We also run a number of other woodfuel related projects:
- West Yorkshire Working Woodlands
- BEn - Biomass energy register for sustainable site development for European regions
More Information
If you would like more information please download our Woodfuel Portfolio (see below) or contact Will Richardson at our Yorkshire office.
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| Woodfuel Portfolio.pdf | 2.09 MB |
