An environmental expert has boldy stated “every farm in the UK will have a wind turbine in five years’ time”.

Wind specialist Mark Newton of Fisher German made the proclamation in launching a free Farming Futures guide to wind energy for farmers and land managers.

With 75 per cent of the UK’s land in the agricultural sector, on-farm wind power can represent a significant business opportunity for farmers and land managers, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change.

The UK government is committed to producing 15 per cent of all our energy from renewable sources by 2020, and wind is expected to make a sizeable contribution towards that goal. As a result, financial incentives such as the new Feed-in Tariffs currently under consultation for April 2010 are making the business case for investment stack up for those with the right resources.

On-farm wind generation can range in size from small systems that power remote farm buildings, through to medium-sized turbines that power local buildings and sell to the Grid, up to multi-million-pound wind farm developments. Turbines must be well sited and have a consistent and adequate wind speed if they are to be a good investment.

The free Farming Futures guide outlines how businesses can use wind resources and what they need to consider when putting together a planning proposal.

Madeleine Lewis of Farming Futures said: “Farmers with the right resources can do well out of renewable energy production. Producing energy on farm can turn a profit, cushion you against rising oil and gas prices, and provide the UK with a secure, clean and renewable energy supply. It can also give access to new and better markets due to growing consumer interest in ‘low-carbon’ food.”

Dr Jonathan Scurlock, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU)’s chief adviser on renewable energy and climate change, said: "The NFU's aspiration is that every farmer should have the opportunity to be a net exporter of low-carbon energy. National targets and government incentives for renewable energy are creating significant new business opportunities.”

Topics