Our Management Team
Ben Talbott - Founder/ Managing Director
Ben Talbott is an accomplished leader in the waste‑to‑energy and biomass power sector, with more than 25 years of experience delivering complex renewable energy infrastructure across the UK and Europe.
Known for his strategic vision, technical expertise, and ability to take major projects from concept through planning, financial close, construction, and successful grid connection, Ben has been instrumental in advancing large‑scale sustainable energy solutions.
Most recently, Ben led the development of a major 18 MWe waste‑to‑energy facility at Drakelow. He oversaw the full technical due‑diligence process, verified key technology suppliers, produced investment‑grade engineering cost plans, and represented the process plant team at board level. Ben negotiated significant IChemE Red and Yellow Book contracts and played a central role in structuring the project’s special‑purpose vehicle and securing investment.
Despite unprecedented challenges—from COVID‑19 and Brexit to global supply‑chain disruption—he ensured the facility progressed through commissioning toward a successful first takeover trial.
Prior to this, Ben served as CEO of Biomass Power Limited (2009–2019), establishing the company as a preferred bidder for major UK and international waste‑to‑energy and biomass projects. He led winning bids for a 4.25 MWe biomass plant in northern Italy, as well as major UK projects with Bouygues in Hoddesdon and Belfast. His work spanned planning approvals, development leadership, contract negotiation under FIDIC and IChemE frameworks, and the delivery of front‑end engineering and design (FEED) packages for multiple large‑scale energy developments.
Earlier in his career, as Managing Director of Talbott’s Biomass Power Limited (2002–2009), Ben oversaw the design, construction, and commissioning of multiple biomass and waste‑to‑energy plants, including grid‑connected facilities in Eccleshall and West Sussex. He secured major clients such as NHS Trusts, IKEA, and Norbord, and helped pioneer a UK‑based Miscanthus supply chain to support renewable power generation. He also led international projects, including flue‑gas treatment plants and turnkey process‑heating facilities.
Ben began his professional journey at Talbott’s Heating Ltd, progressing from Head of Sales to Sales Director and ultimately Managing Director between 1995 and 2002. During this period, he doubled company turnover, expanded into export markets in Japan and North America, and oversaw the delivery of up to 150 industrial biomass heating systems per year. His leadership covered product development, sales operations, international subsidiaries, and engineering delivery.
Throughout his career, Ben has been recognised for combining deep technical understanding with commercial insight, decisive leadership, and innovative problem‑solving. His projects consistently deliver strong environmental, operational, and financial outcomes—contributing significantly to the UK’s transition toward cleaner, more resilient energy generation.
Dr Yao bin Yang - Technical Director
Director of Thermal Systems & Advanced Combustion Technologies
Dr. Yaobin Yang, PhD in Science and Technology, brings exceptional depth of expertise to Leaf Trio Limited.
Before joining the renewable‑energy industry, he served as a Senior Research Fellow at the Universities of Leeds and Sheffield, contributing to leading academic work in combustion, gasification, and heat‑transfer systems.
He later became Technical Director for Talbotts Heating, Biomass Power, and Vital Energy Renewable, where he continues to drive innovation in large‑scale sustainable energy.
Dr. Yang has published over 60 academic research papers and has received two prestigious awards recognising his distinctive scientific contributions.
He is the developer of the renowned FLIC Code, used globally to simulate combustion and gasification processes in grate‑firing systems, and he also contributed to the foundational development of the well‑known FLUENT computational fluid‑dynamics (CFD) software.
Specialising in the design and optimisation of thermal and power systems, Dr. Yang’s expertise spans combustion and gasification technologies, advanced CFD analysis, heat‑transfer engineering, waste‑to‑energy processes, and pollution‑control solutions.
His work continues to shape the renewable and biomass energy sectors, delivering engineering excellence across every project he supports.
Martin Riley - Engineering Director
Martin Riley MCMI, MSc is a highly accomplished engineering leader with more than three decades of experience delivering complex renewable‑energy, Waste‑to‑Energy (WtE), biomass, CHP and power‑generation projects across the UK and internationally.
Renowned for his combination of deep mechanical and process‑engineering expertise with strong commercial and governance capability, Martin has led the full lifecycle of major energy‑infrastructure developments—from feasibility and FEED through detailed design, procurement, manufacturing, construction, commissioning and operational handover.
Most recently, Martin served as Engineering Director for the Drakelow Waste‑to‑Energy development, one of the UK’s most technically ambitious EfW projects. Over seven years, he directed all engineering activities across the project’s lifecycle, built and led a multi‑disciplinary engineering organisation, and established the technical governance framework to ensure full compliance with CDM, IED/WID, environmental permitting, pressure‑systems regulations and grid‑connection standards. Martin coordinated the engineering integration of advanced thermal‑treatment systems, boiler and steam cycle optimisation, turbine‑generator packages, flue‑gas treatment, fuel‑handling systems and all balance‑of‑plant infrastructure. He oversaw PFD/P&ID development, 3D model reviews, HAZOP/HAZID, LOPA and SIL assessments, design‑change management, and full technical assurance for all EPC deliverables.
His leadership extended through procurement strategy—covering specification, supplier selection, contract compliance and FAT/SAT oversight—as well as commissioning strategy, performance testing and operational readiness. Martin also championed continuous improvement and digital engineering adoption across the project, strengthening quality, safety and engineering discipline at every stage.
Prior to this role, Martin served for a decade as Engineering Director with Biomass Power Ltd, delivering WtE and biomass power plants ranging from modular 125 kWe units to full-scale 20 MWe installations. He led FEED and detailed design, developed cost‑optimised plant layouts, coordinated multidisciplinary engineering, ensured CDM-compliant design governance, and managed commissioning of complete EfW and biomass facilities. His expertise spans advanced thermal treatment—including gasification and pyrolysis—steam-cycle optimisation, APC (air‑pollution‑control) systems, high‑pressure pipework, turbine and boiler commissioning, and plant‑wide control systems.
Martin’s earlier career includes roles as an independent engineering consultant, Senior Project Manager at Talbotts Biomass Power, Project Manager for E‑ON UK’s turbine‑engineering services, and multiple site‑operations leadership positions delivering CHP systems, fluidised‑bed combustion plants, steam‑turbine installations, and high‑voltage electrical infrastructure. His engineering foundations were built at GEC Turbine Generators, where he spent seven years delivering service engineering and project planning for turbine‑generator systems ranging from 1.5 MWe to 1200 MWe—experience that continues to inform his strong understanding of rotating plant, steam systems and large‑scale generation assets.
Across every role, Martin has been recognised for his ability to provide strong technical leadership while maintaining rigorous governance, quality assurance, and safety compliance. His work consistently delivers robust, efficient, and fully compliant power‑plant solutions—supporting the UK’s transition toward cleaner, more reliable and more sustainable energy systems.
Martin holds an MSc in Logistics in Manufacturing Systems, an HND in Mechanical Engineering, and is a Member of the Chartered Management Institute (MCMI)