The Farmers Mart Dec-Jan 2018 - Issue 54 | Page 23

EVENTS 23
• DEC/JAN 2018
CARBON CHALLENGE PRESENTS
ON-FARM OPPORTUNITY
Farmers could play a significant part in decarbonisation of the UK’s national heat supply, according
to Dr Jonathan Scurlock, Chief Adviser for Renewable Energy and Climate Change at the NFU.
“AS the voice of British farming, the NFU
has a desire to see profitable, resilient and
diversified farm businesses through the
transition to Brexit. Management of energy
costs and investment in clean technology is
a key part of this,” he explains.
“With dramatic falls in the cost of solar
PV, onshore and offshore wind, as well as
battery energy storage technology, the
prospect of complete decarbonisation of
the UK’s electricity supply is now in sight.”
However, he adds that there is still a huge
challenge ahead to decarbonise Britain’s
heat supply.
‘ over 60 speakers
have been confirmed
for the Energy Now
Expo, which will cover
a range of topics
focusing on current
and future renewable
energy opportunities
for farmers.
’
“There’s a requirement for large amounts
of low-carbon gas to displace natural fossil
gas, and this presents a great opportunity
for farmers and landowners.
“An increased supply of agricultural
feedstocks will be needed to fuel a growing
bio-based economy, including a large fleet
of biomethane plants and new processes
such as synthetic gas from biomass.”
As opening speaker and chair of the key-
note session on day two of the Energy Now
Expo on 7 and 8 February in Telford, Dr
Scurlock explains that on-farm renewables
remain an exciting and fast-moving sector
in the coming year.
“The first electric tractors may be on sale
in Europe as early as 2018, and the escalat-
ing energy demands of battery cars could
create opportunities for farmers to host
charging stations.
“Large vehicles may also function like
mobile storage batteries, earning income
through ‘vehicle-to-grid’ services, and
allowing access to ultra-low-cost charging,”
he adds.
In addition to Dr Scurlock, over 60
speakers have been confirmed for the
Energy Now Expo, which will cover a range
of topics focusing on current and future re-
newable energy opportunities for farmers.
These include:
• Mark Tufnell, Vice President Country
Land and Business Association (CLA)
• Ray Noble, solar & storage advisor,
Renewable Energy Agency (REA)
• Simon Hamlyn, chief executive officer,
British Hydropower Association (BHA)
• Jennifer Pride, head of renewable ener-
gy team, Welsh Government
• Dr Jeremy Tomkinson, chief executive
officer and lead consultant for biofu-
els, National Non Food Crops Centre
(NNFCC)
• Henry Phillips, Office for Low Emission
Vehicles (OLEV)
• Hiten Sonpal, Head of specialist sec-
tors, Lombard
• Dr Andy Scott, head of consulting,
Swanbarton Ltd
• Dujon Goncalves-Collins, programme
director, RenewableUK
• John Findlay, chairman, Ground
Source Heat Pump Association (GSH-
PA)
• James Court, head of policy, Renewa-
ble Energy Agency (REA)
• Steffan Messenger, BBC Environment
Correspondent
• Jennifer Woodruff, Innovation and low
carbon network engineer, Western
Power Distribution