The Farmers Mart Apr/May 2015 - Issue 39 | Page 74

Renewables

Confidence
continues in
renewables
»»2014 saw confidence improve
substantially in renewable in the UK
agricultural sector, with more and more
farmers and landowners seeing the
potential of investments in biomass,
solar, wind turbines on their own
account, and an increasing number
offering site leases to developers.
On-farm energy generation has
now become mainstream, and growth
continues this year when experts
believe the sector will really come into
its own as more opportunities present
themselves.
“In 2015, we see opportunities
for both farmers and landowners in
the sector,” says H and H Land and
Property’s renewable energy expert,
Victoria Lancaster, who said at the
beginning of 2015 that this year’s
key message is the vast array of
different tried and tested renewable
technologies now available to farmers
and landowners.

Background
to Biomass
The use of waste products to create
energy is increasingly being utilised,
with biomass set to play a bigger role
on farms as will farm scale heat and
power plants.
“Biomass is set for massive
growth,” said Victoria Lancaster. “If
you have two or more buildings that
require heating, you can invest in
a commercial biomass boiler and
escape from reliance on fossil fuels.”
The future is still bright for farmers
and landowners hoping to invest in
solar power, says Lightsource, one
of the UK’s leading solar energy
generators, despite changes at a
time of political uncertainty for the
renewable industry.
Conor McGuigan, Lightsource
business development director said:
“There’s a real chance for farmers and
landowners across the UK – whatever
sized sites they may have - to unlock
their green energy potential in 2015.
Solar farms aren’t dead. Opportunities
will still be available for installations
below 5MWp and they’re still a very
attractive option for many farmers
or landowners looking to diversify
their income. The UK has made
a legal commitment to reduce its
carbon footprint and solar remains an
important part of that mix.”

74 Apr/May 2015 www.farmers-mart.co.uk

»»It seems like a new idea, but we
have used biomass energy or bioenergy
- the energy from organic matter - for
thousands of years, ever since people
started burning wood to cook food or to
keep warm.
And today, wood is still our largest
biomass energy resource. But many other
sources of biomass can now be used,
including plants, residues from agriculture
or forestry, and the organic component
of municipal and industrial wastes. Even
the fumes from landfills can be used as a
biomass energy source.

‘biomass feedstocks’
The use of biomass energy has the
potential to greatly reduce our greenhouse
gas emissions. Biomass generates about
the same amount of carbon dioxide as
fossil fuels, but every time a new plant
grows, carbon dioxide is actually removed
from the atmosphere. The net emission
of carbon dioxide will be zero as long
as plants continue to be replenished for
biomass energy purposes. These energy
crops, such as fast-growing trees and
grasses, are called biomass feedstocks.
The use of biomass feedstocks can also
help increase profits for the agricultural
industry.