BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk// X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Biomass Community Heating and the RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) - Chris Miles\, Managing Director\, Econergy Ltd DTSTART:20110221T184500Z DTEND:20110221T210000Z UID:TALK29974@talks.cam.ac.uk CONTACT:Publicity Officer\, IMechE Beds &\; Cambs area DESCRIPTION:The use of woodfuel and other forms of biomass is unique among renewables because it is based on harnessing stored solar energy in the f orm of a fuel\, whether woodfuel from forestry and timber processing\, agr icultural by-products such as straw\, or dedicated energy crops grown spec ifically as an energy feedstock. This has given it a much wider range of a pplications than most renewable energy (RE) technolgies such as wind\, wav e and photovoltaics. \n\nUnder pressure both to reduce CO2 emissions and a lso to secure our future energy supplies\, our energy economy is on the cu sp of major changes. Wood heating has the potential to play an important p art in these changes and to grow rapidly\, bringing with it a raft of pote ntial benefits. These cut across many different strands and might be said to offer a model of sustainable development.\n\nCommunity heating refers t o use of a large biomass boiler house for supplying heat to a number of re mote buildings. The five major components or such a setup are 1) A centra l energy center with biomass boiler and fuel store\; 2) A network of pre-i nsulated heat mains to remote buildings\; 3) Consumer interface units\; 4) Standard radiators for space heating\; and 5) Domestic hot water supply.\ n\nThrough the RHI\, the government is proposing cash back incentives to c onsumers and businesses who generate their own renewable heat. This should give a typical scheme an 8 year payback against gas and should be even qu icker for oil. \n\n*Econergy* ("www.econergy.ltd.uk":http://www.econergy.l td.uk) is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of wood fuelled boilers\, bi omass energy services and district heating solutions. Econergy has sold ov er 450 biomass heating projects and received a substantial investment from Centrica plc (British Gas) in 2009.\n\n*Chris Miles* MA Engineering (Cant ab)\, MBA (INSEAD)\, CEng MIET has been working in the biomass energy sect or since 2005 following nearly 20 years in a variety of business and engin eering management roles in the international process and energy sectors.Ch ris is also on the board of the Renewable Energy Association and a directo r of Midland Wood Fuel Ltd\, a leading regional wood fuel supplier. Workin g with the REA\, Chris has played a leading role in the development of pub lic policy for biomass heat over the past 4 years. This includes substanti al input into the design of the Renewable Heat Incentive and air quality l egislation.\n\n18.45 for refreshments. Lecture starts at 19.00. Ends at 21.00 following questions and discussion LOCATION:Lecture Room 4\, Cambridge University Engineering Department\, Tr umpington Street\, Cambridge CB2 1PZ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR