Pig producers are set to reap the returns from renewable energy under a new ‘feed-in tariff’.

A tubular tower turbine courtesy of Gaia-Wind

To help producers identify their best option for investment, BPEX has produced four new factsheets covering:

• wind turbines
• solar heat and electricity
• heat pumps (ground and air)
• biomass (woodchip and pellets)

The energy industry has proposed changes to the way farmers are paid for producing renewable energy, with the ‘feed-in tariff’ due to come in next April.

Under the proposals, farmers will be paid for all the renewable energy they generate including what is used on farm. Plus, as well as saving the cost of buying in energy, they may also be paid extra for renewable energy they export to the National Grid – a win-win situation.

Under the new system the net payment farmers receive for a kWh of energy produced may be as much as 36.5p compared with the current 4.5p, depending on the technology used.

BPEX Environment Projects Manager Charles Baines said: “The factsheets provide the key practical and financial information for each technology, including the expected time period for payback.

“Renewable energy technologies provide huge opportunities to make pig businesses more sustainable and carbon efficient – saving on energy costs now and helping safeguard against energy price volatility in the long-term.”

All of these technologies can be adopted on pig farms to replace the need to purchase fuel. As an example, an 11kW wind turbine could pay back on the investment in as little as eight years, without support from outside grants or funding.

BPEX can also provide further independent advice and contacts: please call Charles Baines on 02476 478798.

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