Dedicated Energy Crop Certification

BGSL is a member of a) LEAF and b) the Renewable Energy Association - and is working with these groups to establish the route and methods required for best practice and sustainability certification of its energy crop production from its plantations.

LEAF, or Linking Environment And Farming, is an integrated farming method which is used to validate the sustainability of the method of production and that of the crop itself. BGSL will be working closely with LEAF to ensure that BGSL plantations are established in line with best practice and will have LEAF oversee the overall sustainability certification and annual sustainability audits. LEAF is recognised by most major power producers as a sustainability certification resource.

The Renewable Energy Association (REA) represents the UK's renewable energy industry, covering all renewable power, heat and fuel.

The REA was established in 2001 to represent British renewable energy producers and promote the use of sustainable energy in the UK. The REA was called the Renewable Power Association until October 2005. REA membership is active across the whole spectrum of renewables: electric power, heat and biofuels.

The REA represents a wide variety of organisations, including generators, project developers, fuel and power suppliers, equipment producers and service providers. Members range in size from major multinationals to sole traders. REA membership topped 500 in early 2007, making them by far the largest renewable energy industry association in the UK.

BGSL is happy to provide letters of intent and audit trails to generators regarding contract volumes and 'Energy Crop' status to enable the issuance of 'comfort letters' by regulatory authorities such as OFGEM regarding the eligibility of the energy crop to receive renewable credits of the appropriate value.