Farmers switched-on to renewable energy

Tuesday 23 March 2010

A SERIES of thought-provoking meetings on the renewable energy options available to farmers have proven popular in Cumbria.

Each event, organised by Cumbria Farmer Network for the Livestock Programme, provided the opportunity to ask industry experts, planning advisors and specialist firms, questions about wind turbines, solar power, hydro-power, biomass, heat recovery and anaerobic digestion.

Most farmers were thinking along the lines of wind turbines, photovoltaic (solar) panels, hydro-power and wood fuel and were told at one meeting not to be put off by the planning process in national parks as it was often “easier than you think to get planning”.

Before splashing out on any plans, a scoping letter to your local planning office was recommended by the officer, saying it was worth getting in touch as the national parks were actively encouraging suitable renewable energy schemes.

Another question raised was the payback time on schemes as some were concerned by the large pay out for the equipment and little return, but others were quick to grasp the idea of feed-in tariffs which come in to play in April and selling energy back to the grid.

Some payback times were quicker than others, and some site installations were more difficult than others, but hydro, wind and solar were deemed the most simple and most popular - the latter able to provide heat or electricity.

Everyone at the four events held so far at Brampton, Appleby, Kendal and Keswick were mainly looking to cut costs rather than reduce their carbon foot print but everyone acknowledged the environmental benefits.

The presentation on renewable energy were made by Keith Richardson and Gunter Woltron from CoRE (Community Renewable Energy) and Alistair Fletcher from Renew-ep, followed by a talk on budgeting and finance from The Cumberland Building Society and a discussion with a Q+A panel of local renewable energy firms.