RDI to visit first of its kind in Fife on Tuesday 8 December

Farmers are being offered the chance to see the first ‘gas to grid’ farm-based renewables project being installed in Fife.

NFU Scotland’s ground-breaking Renewable Development Initiative is inviting all interested parties to Peacehill Farm near Wormit on Tuesday 8 December.

Hosted by Ross Forster, this anaerobic digestion project is currently under construction but, once completed, it will be the first gas to grid AD project in Fife.  

The AD plant covers a two hectare site and is fed from cereal and vegetable stock.  The farm has put in place a three-year crop plan to match the expected output of the AD plant.

In addition to the AD plant, Peacehill Farm already has two biomass boiler systems which supply heat to a series of chicken sheds. As well as creating a new income stream for the farm, the biomass boilers have also improved the quality and survival rates of the chickens.

The visit is one of the final events to be held as part of NFU Scotland’s three-year RDI project, designed to provide sound, independent advice to farmers and land managers across Scotland on renewable energy. Through a programme of on-farm events, co-ordinated by Thomas McMillan of Savills Smiths Gore, the initiative has already shown more than a thousand Scottish farmers and land managers energy projects that are contributing to farm businesses or are at the planning stage.  

Although approaching the end, the RDI project has more than met its aim of helping Scottish farmers and land managers fulfil their energy generating potential. 

Notes to Editors

• The Peacehill AD ‘gas to grid’ event on Tuesday 8 December is free to attend and there are still places available.  If you would like to attend and have not yet booked please contact Leah Cole on 0131 344 0888 or email leah.cole@savills-smithsgore.co.uk.
• Visit www.renewableenergyonfarms.co.uk for further details on the NFUS Renewable Development Initiative.
• For media who would like to attend contact media@nfus.org.uk
• The final event for the NFUS RDI is as follows:
  Battery Storage, Solar, Grid Connections, Energy Optimisation and LED lighting – Cronan Farm, Coupar Angus - 16 December Battery Storage is the next big thing in the renewable energy sector and this event will be hosted by Mike McLaren - Cronan Farm, Coupar Angus, PH13 9EX. This will be the final open day of the RDI and will highlight the key opportunities that will remain in the renewable energy sector even if the government imposes the cuts proposed for the FIT in January.  Farmers and landowners with high on site energy use have the potential to be at the forefront of the battery technology revolution with solar being the most complimentary technology for battery storage.  Different battery storage technologies will be covered on the day as well as energy optimisation, LED lighting and grid management solutions. There will be talks from the host farmer Mike McLaren and his father Ian as well as Cornerstone Systems, EON, SunAmp and Green Acorn.  If you want to stay ahead of the game, this final event is not to be missed.

Ends

Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006