The conference
This conference will examine the capacity of biomass-powered renewable energy to develop and transform our rural economy and communities.
Our panel of speakers will, from their different perspectives, examine the potential of various biomass technologies, and fuel sources such as crop residues, food waste, animal waste, wood chip and wood waste, to provide decentralised, off-grid energy and to serve the changing needs of agriculture, industry and wider society in rural and semi-rural areas.
The speakers and topics are outlined below.
The event will take place at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in south Birmingham, close to the centre of the city and the motorway network. Set in beautiful parkland at the former family home of George Cadbury, Woodbrooke, along with Bournville Village Trust and Bournville College, is one of industry’s outstanding civic legacies to the city of Birmingham, and is the ideal setting for a discussion on the potential of renewable energy to drive new forms of sustainable industrial development.
See http://www.woodbrooke.org.uk
Programme
| 9.30am |
Registration & Coffee |
| 10.00am |
Welcome and Introduction |
| 10.15am |
Session One Presentations |
| 11.45am |
Break |
| 12.00pm |
Session Two Presentations |
| 1.30pm |
Summary and Conclusions |
| 1.45pm |
Buffet Lunch |
| 2.30pm |
Close |
The sessions
Chair, Summary & Conclusions
Paul Mountain, SGH Martineau
Session One
The potential of biomass for the rural economy – new technologies, new infrastructure, new skills and jobs
Peter Jones OBE, Ecolateral
Regulatory update for biomass projects
Neil Budd, SGH Martineau LLP
The technologies on offer - AD, advanced AD, gasification and pyrolysis - their strengths and limitations
Andrea Gysin, ECOGENR8
Appraising a scheme – project economics and project logistics
Location Map John Leeson, SLR Consulting
Session Two
Planning and environmental policy – planning permissions, and feedstock as waste
Iain Johnston, SGH Martineau LLP
Case study – anaerobic digestion in action - research, development and application in the agrarian economy
Dr Letitia Chico-Santamarta, Harper Adams University College
Property issues – leases, rights, restrictions and consents
Kathy Toon, SGH Martineau LLP
How to book
Please email sarah.jordan@sghmartineau.com who will reserve you a place and who will be in touch again prior to the event. Sarah can also be contacted via email or phone (T: 0800 763 1422) if you require any further information. There is no charge for the event, but please note that places are limited.