North East Wood Fuels, or NEWFuels, is the wood fuel producer group for North East England. We were successful in applying for funding from Defra’s Bio-Energy Infrastructure Grant Scheme and since then have worked to establish the business, recruit members and grow customer confidence in wood as a fuel.
The first two supply contracts were tendered earlier this year, with the first (1000 tonnes for Hexham swimming pool) being awarded to Waste-not-Green of Shotleyfield. The second contract will be awarded in May and is for the supply of 350 tonnes to NaREC's high-voltage testing laboratory at Hebburn, the heart of urban Tyneside.
Further contracts are in preparation for tender, with many more coming through from the NEWHeat market acceleration project.
NEWFuels is legally established as a not-for-profit company and a ‘Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association’ have been agreed (Click here to view). A board of directors has been appointed meets regularly to review progress.
What does NEWFuels do?
1. Facilitate the supply and delivery of all types of woodfuel across the North East of England.
2. Provide a networking facility; connecting woodfuel consumers with woodfuel producers and removing the barrier of lack of access to good quality fuels.
3. Provide independent advice concerning all aspects of woodfuel heating and woodfuel supply.
4. Provide a Quality Assurance service to members - ensuring the delivery of good quality woodfuels across the North East.
5. Organise and assist with the availability of suitable equipment for processing and delivering woodfuel to members of NEWFuels.
6. Co-ordinate training for woodfuel suppliers and disseminate industry developments and best working practice amongst NEWFuels members.
7. To represent woodfuel growers, producers and merchants across the North East by ensuring co-operation and liaison with other projects with similar objectives.
8. Promote and publicise to members high standards of fuel quality, equipment performance and emissions limits.
9. Encourage the development of a market for woodfuel by working alongside those who have or are planning to install woodfuel systems.
10. Promote and encourage the development of NEWFuels by promoting group services to a broad range of potential members including woodfuel consumers and producers.
How does NEWFuels Operate?
The group operates in the following way:
1. NEWFuels will act as a broker - putting woodfuel producers in touch with consumers.
2. All members with the capacity to supply woodfuel will be invited to submit tenders that meet the requirements of the consumer.
3. All of the submitted tenders will be given directly to the consumer to evaluate and make a decision based on the information presented.
4. A contract will be drawn up between the woodfuel consumer and the successful woodfuel producer.
5. Quality control procedures will be in place ensure the correct specification fuels will be delivered to each of the projects. NEWFuels will provide a monitoring service and will provide advice and information.
6. To add security and confidence to potential consumers, a bond will be taken by NEWFuels which will amount to the value of one month’s supply of fuel. Should the producer fail to deliver fuel according to the terms in the contract, this money will be used to facilitate the supply of fuel to the consumer from another member. The bond will be fully refundable when the contract expires.
Want to supply wood fuel?
Become a member of NEWfuels - full membership is for potential woodfuel suppliers.
Follow this link for more information on membership and a membership application pack.
Want to buy woodfuel?
Call NEWFuels on 0845 373 2766
or
Become an Associate member - membership for woodfuel consumers and those wanting
to be involved with the development of NEWFuels and are keen to show their support.
Follow this link for more information on membership and a membership application pack.
If you have any questions or queries please call NEWFuels team on 0845 373 2766