NFU Scotland, which represents more than 9000 farming and crofting businesses has joined forces with a leading solar power and battery developer to help Scotland hit its climate goals while providing a valuable new income stream for working farms and crofts.
Crucially, the new ‘affinity’ deal between the NFU Scotland (NFUS) and Iqony Solar Energy Solutions (UK) (SENS) aims to ensure that only a marginal amount of productive farmland is used for solar installations, by working closely to identify suitable sites. Under the deal:
• NFUS will use its detailed knowledge and relationships with members to identify sites that are suitable for Photovoltaic (PV) technology and battery projects.
• SENS will develop the sites and own them for the long-term.
• The landowners will then receive an indexed, competitive market rent for the land for up to 40 years.
NFUS has a significant number of affinity partners offering key services and discounts to its members, ranging from fuel providers to equipment suppliers.
Iqony Solar Energy Solutions (UK) (SENS) are a UK division of Iqony SENS, a large multi-national solar and battery developer, engineering contractor and independent power provider.
The two organisations will begin working together to identify potential farm and croft locations and develop them into viable PV and battery sites, generating and storing sustainable energy and providing income for the farming community.
NFU Scotland Commercial Manager Tom Graham said: “Agrivoltaics and solar technology are currently developing at a rapid pace. This partnership keeps us at the forefront of new solar technology that will help NFU Scotland’s members build sustainable and profitable businesses by creating additional income on what they do for years to come.
“We've seen how impactful and innovative our members can be when they are supported by reliable renewable services, and we expect many of them will want to explore this opportunity to grow their businesses without using up productive agricultural land, still facilitating grazing and thus create a stable economic future for Scottish agriculture.”
James Bracegirdle, Managing Director of SENS in the UK said: “We are delighted to have signed an affinity agreement with NFU Scotland. Although it’s clear that our projects will help Scotland advance its Net Zero goals, we also hope that our involvement and our financial capability will give Scottish farmers a solid alternative option to generate long-term, stable income.”
Suitable sites for development would be a minimum of 80 acres, where any development would have a minimal visual impact and have low flood risk. Sites cannot be too rocky or steep, with most of the land of low agricultural productivity. The sites must also be available to lease, with potential for a connection to the National Grid.
After signing the affinity deal, Iqony and NFUS have moved to reassure landowners who are concerned that solar PV installations will reduce the amount of productive farmland available – with the impact being marginal. They point out that to reach the UK’s Net Zero goals, PV would only take up 0.29 per cent of available land (equivalent to approximately 0.51 per cent of all available agricultural land). To put this into perspective, UK airports currently use 0.2 per cent of available land and golf courses use 0.51 per cent of available land.
Notes to editors
• For more information please contact: Tom Graham at NFU Scotland on 0131 472 4030 or email tom.graham@nfus.org.uk or Mark Moore at Iqony SENS UK Ltd on 07831 444171, or email mark.moore@iqony.energy