REA was established in 2001 as a not-for-profit trade association, representing British renewable energy producers and promoting the use of renewable energy in the UK. REA helps our members build commercially and environmentally sustainable businesses whilst increasing the contribution of renewable energy to the UK’s electricity, heat, transport and green gas needs.
Its membership also includes composters, following the merger of the Association for Organics Recycling (formerly the Composting Association) in 2013. The REA endeavours to achieve the right regulatory framework for renewables and organics waste recycling to deliver an increasing contribution to the UK's electricity, heat, recycling and transport needs.
Our membership is active across the whole spectrum of technologies and renewable energy applications electric power, heat, CHP, transport biofuels, biomethane to grid (“green gas”) and, following our merger in 2013 with AfOR, the production of compost. Our members comprise generators, project developers, fuel producers and distributors, equipment manufacturers and distributors, those in organics recycling and service providers. Members range in size from major multi-nationals to sole traders. The Wood Heat Association is a subsidiary of REA, the largest renewable energy industry association in the UK.
Go to the joining instructions in the membership section.
The REA’s main objective is to secure the best legislative and regulatory framework for expanding renewable energy production in the UK. We also seek to ensure that organics recycling (where process outputs are also a significant feedstock for renewable energy generation via anaerobic digestion) is maximised. We undertake policy development and provide input to government departments, agencies, regulators, NGOs and others. Other services include:
We also host the annual British Renewable Energy Awards
The Association sponsors the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC). The Consumer Code was set up by the Renewable Energy Association. It aims to guarantee a high quality experience for consumers wishing to buy or lease small generation units for their home. RECC membership is a sign that the supplier has agreed to abide by the high standards as set out in the Code. The Code is backed by the Trading Standards Institute as part of its self-regulation initiative, the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme. The CCAS was formerly run by the Office of Fair Trading. The RECC logo is a symbol of professional excellence.
The REA deals with broad renewables policies, but also covers sector-specific issues. We have set up a number of Sector Groups, some looking at individual technologies, others focused on cross cutting issues.
As of October 2014 the REA Biomass Heat Group merged with the Wood Heat Association (WHA). WHA have since become a wholly owned subsidiary of the REA giving a louder, more individual voice to the modern wood heating industry.
A Board, elected by the membership and the sector groups, directs the Association’s activities. A full-time executive team handles operational, policy, and communication issues, based at our conveniently located office in central London. We also retain a number of specialist advisors with industry expertise in individual sectors, to support the activities of the sector groups and policy development in general.
The REA is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. The Articles of Association can be found here. The REA is primarily funded from member subscriptions.
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