Bio Energy Group

Chair: David Rodda - Cornwall Agricultural Council

The Bio Energy Group is a key delivery mechanism for all relevant energy production and efficiency matters for those involved in agriculture, farming and forestry in Cornwall.

The group meets as and when required, and has the ability to appoint ‘task and finish’ working groups to further specific tasks on its behalf.

In order to avoid duplication its, work excludes i. the use of Bio fuels for transport ( see Transport Group ) and ii. Health and Community related issues such as fuel poverty ( see Health and Community Group ).

Bio Energy Group members include:

• The National Farmers Union, Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group and the Country Land and Business Association
• Cornwall Agricultural Council
• Government Office South West and the South West Regional Development Agency
• Bio Energy Technology Specialists and Developers

Aims of the Bio Energy Group:

The above combination of organisations/individuals with appropriate responsibilities and ability to influence decision makers is regarded as the appropriate forum to enable CSEP to:

• Deliver current actions from the Energy Strategy for Cornwall and set new targets/actions.
• Promote the need for appropriately sized bio energy plants in Cornwall which have an integrated approach from resource production through to energy production and the end use of heat and / or electricity.
• Identify and maximise opportunities for the growing and nurturing of high energy calorific crops and forestry.
• Assist the farming and bio-energy community as and when required.
• Liaise with and, when necessary, prepare relevant reports for the CSEP Jobs and Industry Group in order to maximise demand driven local jobs and industry opportunities.
• Lobby for appropriate support and changes in legislation.

For details on the next meeting of the group, please see the CSEP Diary.

For more information regarding the Bio Energy Group, please contact Sophie Acklin at sophie@csep.co.uk.