North East farmers turned out in droves to the recent NFU Scotland renewable energy event, confirming that interest in on-farm energy generation has reached new levels.
The event, staged jointly by the Turriff and New Deer branches of the Union, attracted 120 farmers, all showing their enthusiasm for learning more about the potential benefits of using renewables to enhance their farm businesses.
The event focussed on local renewable suppliers and helped to showcase to farmers what products they have on offer. Exhibitors included Allathan Associates, Keenan Green Recycling and Kalvas Biomass Boilers. The highlight of the evening for many was being given a tour of the wind turbines at Skelmonae Wind Farm in Methlick.
NFUS Vice-President, Nigel Miller, who spoke at the event said:
“It really was a fantastic event, quite groundbreaking really, and one which I believe everyone got a lot out of. It allowed us all to look through the window to the challenges of moving into renewables, but also to the opportunities available for farmers as a result.
“The centrepiece of the evening was undoubtedly getting to see the wind turbines at Skelmonae up close. While the process of installing these can be a significant planning exercise, and significant investment, it can be something that feeds money into the local community as well as into farmers’ own farm businesses.
“There are certainly opportunities to be grasped, particularly with the feed in tariffs that are currently available, and while this event showcased a farm business that now has significant generation capacity, there are smaller wind turbine options that can be attractive to farmers too.
“Renewable options are something that many farmers are looking at as a potentially viable choice on-farm and events such as this are exactly what we need to provide the catalyst to get farmers interested in the options available. As a Union we will be looking into how we can support members as they do just that.”
Notes to Editors
Ends
Contact Wendy Fleming on 0131 472 4020