Surrey Hills Woodfuel Challenge Conference

This conference is about wood as sustainable, green, carbon neutral fuel. It looks at the question: Why would you choose wood?

And its panel of experts will explain: Why you should choose wood!

Organised by the Surrey Wood Fuel Group, this is the second October conference for people who are involved in upgrading old buildings or designing and building new ones, either in the public or private sector. The aim is to explain the business opportunities relating to the rapidly expanding woodfuel market.

Speakers will look at the potential for wood to heat housing complexes, institutions, office blocks and civic buildings and show why architects, designers, landowners, farmers, planners and builders should consider opting for wood fuel in a wide range of projects and how they can do it.

Speakers include Oliver More from Ofgem, Michael Baxter from the Albury Estate, Mark Lebus from LC Energy, Chris Miles from Econergy, Gary Battell (Woodlands advisor) from Suffolk County Council and Bill Biddell from the Hampton Estate.

The financial position has changed rapidly over the last year and speakers will explain the subsidies available through the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and show the on-going cost benefits of switching from fossil fuel to wood, as well as being shown the nuts and bolts of wood heating installation.

Wood fuel heating is now established in this country. Surrey for example has 167,715 acres of woodland, and wood fuel is Surrey County Council’s official preferred heating source.

There are some high profile wood fuel champions already enjoying the benefits, including the University of Surrey and Birtley House. Delegates will be able to see for themselves how the woodchip system heats the Birtley House Nursing Home, inspecting both boiler house and chip store.

The conference will demonstrate the extent of the wood fuel supply chain in Surrey. This is a wooded county and wood is a sustainable resource with an expanding network of suppliers. Using wood for fuel enables woodland to be managed for biodiversity and conservation.

Booking for this event (which includes lunch) is essential and a conference fee of £25 plus a £2.50 booking fee will be charged at the time of booking.

To book please go to http://surreyhillswoodfuelchallege.eventbrite.com/.

This event is supported by the Forestry Commission and Birtley House.