BEn-Regional network North East England

 

Fourth Network Meeting 06-12-2010

North-East England held its Fourth Network Meeting. The Meeting took place on the 6th December 2010 and covered several activities: 

  • Introduction of the UK’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) to new activities
  • Updating engaged stakeholdern on RHI implications
  • Supporting forest owners and wider firest industry to ensure sustainable growth of the sector 
  • Update the network on current changes to the UK’s Government structures of Regions
  • Making synergies between BEn results and the IEE project AFO

As Next Steps it was agreed on continuing the current activities and prepare the progress for the upcoming 5th Network Meeting in autumn 2011. 

 

 

 

 

Third Network Meeting 24-10-2010

On the 24th of March 2010 North East of England held its 3rd Regional NetworkMeeting. It was organised in conjunction with the biannual meeting of the North East Biomass Forum (NEBF), which represents the biomass sector stakeholders in the North East of England. An initial discussion regarding the regional needs and stakeholders expectations towards the Master Plan development followed giving a valuable input to the project.

The content of the meeting focused on the prototype of the BEn register, current project results and activities, such as:

  • Further networking establishment recognizing the evolving regional and national structures that may have an influence on the future development of bioenergy sector
  • More communication activities (according to situation caused by government reforms)

Further steps have been initiated and will be followed up. 


Second Network Meeting 25-09-2009

The second BEn North East regional meeting took place on the 25th Sept 2009 in the Stannington Village Hall. The attendees have formed an interdisciplinary group of local supporters to the project: representatives of the local authorities and public agencies dealing with biomass issues as well as community and business networks active in the field of bioenergy in the North East.

The overall progress in the project was presented to the participants and the current issues regarding development of the BEn GIS register and a strategic regional Biomass Master Plan were discussed. Everybody agreed that at the moment the focus should be put on the data collection and development of the GIS tool. It is expected to see the prototype of the tool and the first results of mapping exercise at the beginning of next year. 

Furtheron, we following actions are currently in progress:

  • Informal meetings with stakeholders
  • Contacts with new stakeholders from waste sector
  • Preparation of input to the BEn website
  • Promotion of the BEn website to the stakeholders
  • Updating of Northwoods BEn webpage’s  separate section dedicated the BEn regional partners
  • Working on a google map presenting the stakeholders in the region

As many further project activties like the development of the Master Plan and BEn specific biomass actions should be based on the information from BEn register it is the priority for project actions now to collect as much relevant data to feed the register as possible. 

Next steps: 

  • Involving new stakeholders (especially from waste and agricultaural sectors)
  • Organisation of next meetings (with the Biomass Forum meetings)
  • Promotion of BEn and existing bio-energy networks
  • Cooperation with regional authorities
  • Establishing of working groups (GIS, master plan) which will involve representatives of bio-energy networks, government agencies and local administration
  • Publishing the google map on Northwoods BEn web page

 

 

 

 

Date: 11-03-2009

 

The BEn Kick-Off Meeting was organised as a part of a biannual meeting of the North East Biomass Forum. This meeting as well as 2 meetings with other existing networks active in the bio-energy sector in the North East England (CoRE, NREG)  identified the following key issues

  • All existing networks have strong identity and cover various areas of the biomass energy scene in the North East
  • BEN GIS biomass register is generally perceived as a very useful tool
  • The definition of biomass potential needs to be clarified in terms of theoretical, technical, economical, sustainable potential etc.
  • Availability and quality of data for the GIS register are of big importance
  • Usability of BEn register has to be assured also after the project end

Next Steps:

  • Further networking especially with the actors from waste and agricultural sectors
  • Promotion of BEn and existing bio-energy networks
  • Initiation of cooperation with the bio-energy representatives within the regional and newly reformed local administration units
  • Establishing a BEn working group for development of a regional master plan, which will involve the representatives of bio-energy networks, government agencies and local administration
  • Identification of geo-data sources and data quality assurance.