• Swindon & Wiltshire Manufacturing
• Thursday December 12 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Solid fuel industry launches national Cleaner Safer Group in Swindon

A national body representing the solid fuel and biomass industries has been launched with an inaugural conference in Swindon.

Tewkesbury-based The Cleaner Safer Group, made up of trade bodies Hetas – which represents the appliance sector – and Woodsure – which represents woodfuel producers – aims to mitigate the safety risks and environmental impacts of the use of wood burners and similar solid fuel heaters.

The conference at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon brought together local authorities, industry leaders and more than 40 industry representatives.

Calvin May, head of technical services at HETAS, called for: “a joined-up approach between professionals within the biomass industry and the sharing of knowledge (to) empower a drive for change towards a more sustainable environment.”

And Alan Young, quality assurance manager at HETAS, said that industry experts could ‘bridge the gap’ between the demands of legislators The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

“CSG is in a very unique position to help build that much-needed bridge. This will allow for an even more comprehensive view of solid fuel, where expertise from multiple industries and sectors is combined,” he said.

Jason Harries, head of Wodsure, said: “Aligning devolved administrations and educating consumers on the importance of high-quality, locally sourced wood fuel will further strengthen the position of wood as a viable, sustainable and safe source of fuel.”

Helen Bentley-Fox, director of Woodsure, added: ““The recent delay of the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation is a key example of the way that a collaborative wood fuel industry can create effective change.

“This delay could see the UK become a dumping ground for illegal timber, with the potential to negatively impact our local suppliers, wood fuel quality, and biosecurity, unless swift and united action is taken.

““The delay now grants the wood fuel industry the time and opportunity to call for much-needed action from the UK Government, but this call must be clear and informed in order to be effective and to avoid any knock-on effects across the wider solid fuel and biomass sector.

“By unifying our message across sectors, from wood fuel to biomass to appliance manufacturing and more, we can ensure that the future of the wood fuel sector and the wider biomass and solid fuel industry is one based on collaboration and a drive for cleaner, safer and more sustainable choices.”