Lincolnshire Cereal Event promises biggest renewables section

Farmers Weekly reminded us that this year's Cereal Event will be taking place at Boothby Graffoe, Lincolnshire on the 15th and 16th June.

It promises to feature the biggest ever renewables and waste management area so far with more than 30 companies taking part, covering "a range of renewable energy generation and supply opportunities".

More on the Farmers Weekly website - click here.

Don't forget if you're a land owner or business, Solar Panel Quoter can still put you in touch with reputable, certified renewables installation companies throughout the UK. Get your free, no obligation online quote at Solar Panel Quoter.co.uk - click here.

photo credit: hajime nakano

Wind Power - could we use farm assets more wisely?

I've said it before but it's really great to discover new sources of renewable energy 'talk' like this article on Farming Futures.

The gist is this - basically, farmers want to invest in renewables, given the large areas of land they own but are finding it difficult to get the right subsidies as bureaucracy dictates they simply cannot 'hook up' to the 'grid' if they're not using the energy themselves.

The article by David Hugill quotes other problems farmers are experiencing - availability of grid connection and confusion over what funding is and isn't supported.

I came away from reading the article thinking "we've really got to do more to support these guys". The opportunity for using large areas of land, whilst offering farmers an income without subsidies (for not growing crops or keeping livestock) must surely be seized?

The first 6 months of this year has flown by hasn't it? Bare in mind that there's only another 19 such periods to 2020 when we're supposed to be generating 15% + of our energy needs via renewables.

Read David Hugill's full article by clicking here.

photo credit: me'nthedogs

Farmer diversifies to add value to his farm with renewable energy source

Spotted in the Farmers Guardian - how one welsh farmer prays for rain.

Whilst many of us struggle with torrential downpours or even the odd drizzle, one Welsh farmer loves the stuff.

And he's got good reason to.

Alan Williams has installed a 10kW hydro electric generation plant on his 300 acre farm and in the 18 months since he installed it, has been saving himself a pretty penny.

"Not only are there the normal savings in expenditure to be had, but it also maximises payments for the surplus energy being fed into the National Grid.

At the heart of the venture is a small, three-metre square shed hidden away in a stream-side dingle – it houses what has been a capital investment of around £20,000.

But with their own electricity bills reduced from £2,000 a year to a mere £75, plus an annual payment of £4,000 from Ofgem for producing renewable energy, as well as payment for the power exported to the National Grid, payback is expected in just two-and-a-half years.

Automatic switchover provides mains electricity back-up."

You can read the full interesting article at Farmers Guardian by clicking here. It just goes to show that with a little imagination and advice, you can really make alternative energy investments work for you.

As Alan states in the article "There used to be three woollen mills running off water power in this valley years ago, so really we are just going back to using a resource which was already here".

photo credit: nicksarebi