Feed-in-Tariffs and the bigger picture for farmers

22 February 2010

Farmers looking to diversify into green electricity generation

Since the government announced its Feed-in-Tariff scheme earlier this month, green electricity company Green Energy UK has seen a significant rise in the number of farmers looking into becoming electricity generators. The majority of these enquiries are from farmers thinking of installing wind turbines on their land. However, on the eve of the National Farmers’ Union conference, which has an environmental theme running through it, Green Energy UK is urging farmers to consider other options.

Doug Stewart, founder and chief executive of Green Energy UK, explains: “Anaerobic digestion or small hydro generation requires a little more investment to set up, but unlike wind turbines, which only begin producing electricity when the wind is at a certain speed, hydro and anaerobic digestion can produce electricity twenty four seven. Some farmers we are working with on anaerobic digestion have found they are getting more from the process than just electricity to use and sell.”

Pig farmer Andrew Rennie is a prime example. He uses an anaerobic digester for his manure, not just to help him create enough green electricity to use at his Aberdeenshire farm and sell to Green Energy UK, but to turn the manure into an eco friendly fertiliser that he then puts on his fields to grow crops to feed his pigs, thus continuing the renewable cycle.

Herts tomato farmers Guy & Wrights help Spitalfields Market, banana importers and local pack houses dispose of their waste vegetable matter that is then fed into an anaerobic digester. Not only do they create green electricity from this, the process drives heat into their greenhouses, enabling Guy & Wrights to grow tasty tomatoes for longer. Duncan Grant is able to generate electricity from his land’s natural resources. He has installed a micro hydro-generator to make electricity from a river running the land. The valuable income has enabled him to safeguard the farm’s future, ensuring the farm will be passed down to his son, the fifth generation of Grants to run it.

Duncan says: “It has taken a long time to get to this point and has been a struggle, but it has all been worth it. The fact we are doing something that has a positive environmental impact is bonus for me. I have spent all my life here and I love it.”

Farmers who have watched the Feed-in-Tariff news with interest and would like to explore generating electricity from anaerobic digestion, hydro or small-scale wind (one or two turbines) can phone Green Energy UK for guidance on 0800 954 0675.