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North East biomass expert joins national trade board

The co-founder of a Northumberland biomass heating specialist has been announced as the new board member for the industry’s largest trade association.

Neil Harrison launched Alnwick-based firm re:heat with Ben Tansey in 2011. Their expertise and innovation in the field of biomass has seen re:heat informing Government reports and transforming heating systems in schools, hospitals and businesses across the North East and further afield.

Having played an instrumental role in the Wood Heat Association’s (WHA) establishment, Mr Harrison has been voted onto the association’s first democratically elected board of directors.

He was elected to the role after a vote among the 200 plus members who make up the WHA, the UK trade association for the modern wood heating industry.

Speaking about his appointment he said: “It is fantastic to have this opportunity to continue to raise the professional standards and build the reputation of biomass heating as something that is a sound choice for businesses and households up and down the country.

“Having already assisted in the formation of the WHA, particularly the November 2013 establishment survey and the 2014 conference, I am very much looking forward to taking up my seat on the board and working to improve standards in our industry.”

Before co-founding re:heat in 2011 Neil’s decade-long career in the field of biomass led him to the role of Senior Biomass Consultant with the Scottish Agricultural College.

There he worked on commissions ranging from boiler system design and procurement support for farms and estates, to research and advisory contracts for the Scottish Government, Forestry Commission Scotland and the Cairngorms National Park.

As an increasingly influential association, the WHA works to raise professional standards in the industry, build the reputation of the technology, and is working with Government to try and ensure there is a robust and well-funded Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme from 2016 through to 2020 and beyond.

The association’s parent organisation, the Renewable Energy Association (REA), was a key player in bringing the RHI scheme into legislation in 2011.

For more information about re:heat’s work visit www.reheat.uk.com or ring 01665 665 040.

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