A SERIES of seminars are to be held to prevent owners and operators of biomass district heating schemes falling foul of new legislation.

Biomass specialist, re:heat, and top 100 business law firm Ward Hadaway, will advise on the government's new Heat Network Regulations.

Neil Harrison, re:heat director and vice-chairman of the Wood Heat Association, said the new regulations, come into force from December 2016.

He said: "They have significant implications for owners and operators of district heating schemes of all sizes; this could be a flat attached directly to a stately home getting heat from a central boiler.

"The uptake of heat networks using biomass boilers has been significant under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), with many hundreds of new schemes installed across the UK.

"Many installers and scheme owners have implemented biomass district heating projects without fully understanding the new legislative environment in which they will operate. There is also mounting concern and evidence that many schemes are not operating as efficiently as they could."

The seminars are designed prevent owners and operators from falling foul of the new legislation.

"For example, the new legal requirements state that all heat customers must have a heat meter fitted and owners must meet other obligations or face enforcement action," said Mr Harrison.

"We want to provide expert guidance to help operators navigate regulation changes, maximise the operating efficiency of underperforming systems and increase their RHI income."

The seminars are aimed at anyone who owns, or is developing, a biomass district heating scheme or who provides heat to a number of end users in a property – particularly in the rural, forestry or agricultural sectors. Housing associations and local authorities will also benefit.

Steven Roper, a Ward Hadaway associate, said: "The Heat Network regulations impose a series of important obligations on anyone who provides a communal heating or cooling system to customers or tenants. As such, they apply to a wide range of organisations from energy providers to housing associations and local authorities.

"However, our experience indicates that most providers are unaware of the burdens imposed by these regulations, and many may well be in breach as a result. The potential penalties from not complying with the new regime are serious, so this is something which people cannot afford to ignore."

The seminars will also explain how to optimise district heating scheme outputs through improved controls, metering and measuring to increase RHI income and reduce wood fuel costs; give an update on national biomass policy and hear about the future of the RHI scheme and the biomass sector in general.

The seminar venues and dates include The Rheged Centre, Penrith, November 8; the Black Bull at Moulton, near Scotch Corner, November 15; and Cockle Park, Morpeth, December 6. Each starts at 9.45am and ends with lunch.

For details and to book, contact Penny Stewart at penny@reheat.uk.com, call 01665 665 040 or see reheat.uk.com/heatnetworks.