Ahead of the introduction of the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive next year, the biomass industry is preparing to ensure that a high quality supply of wood pellets is available to meet demand.
Established 12 months ago, the UK Pellet Council (UKPC) aims to provide a single body to represent all parties directly involved in the UK wood pellet trade, and to implement the European ENplus wood pellet fuel quality scheme.

ENplus was introduced to help secure the supply of wood pellets with clearly defined and consistent quality for heating purposes. The scheme has been operated successfully in Europe for a number of years by the European Pellet Council and various national bodies representing individual countries.

Now with the launch of the UKPC, the UK has its own organisation hosted by the Renewable Energy Association. As well as administering the ENplus scheme, the UKPC will promote biomass heating to end users, monitor and liaise with government on policy, and provide a forum for dispute resolution.

To support the UKPC, HETAS has been appointed as the UK certification body for ENplus. The scheme is open to pellet producers based in the UK or pellet traders who wish to market to customers in the UK. HETAS will also accept applications from producers or traders in European countries that don't have their own national pellet council as long as that country is recognised by the European Pellet Council as participating in the ENplus scheme.