The Scottish Government offered Borders Machinery Ring a Sustainable Action Grant of £35,500 in 2006-07, £39,500 in 2007-08 and £35,500 in 2008-09 for a Sustainable Energy in Farming project, to carry out jointly with the Scottish Institute of Sustainable Technology (SISTech) audits of opportunities in the Borders and Lanarkshire for renewable energy systems on farms and in rural communities, and establish energy projects supporting rural enterprise, involving local communities and promoting rural economies while making a tangible contribution to reducing use of non-renewable energy resources.
It included establishing a Borders Energy Farming Forum (BEFF) for the exchange of knowledge and experiences, developing case studies and holding a conference on sustainable energy in farming, and aimed to act as a model for communities throughout Scotland.
A main point of contact was the Borders Energy Farming Forum website. With input from the project, NFU Scotland produced a promotional leaflet targeted at farmers, with details of renewable energy technologies.
In the farm audits, the BEFF advice complemented work of the Energy Saving Trust; BEFF carried out renewable energy assessments and pre-feasibility studies, leaving farmers free to pursue energy efficiency audits from EST as an additional service.
In 2006-07 there was work on the aim of developing at least four renewable energy projects. The Forum established a farmers' wind energy working group, with 25 members, including representatives of community councils, and held meetings with invited speakers to stimulate ideas and discussion.
In November 2006 there was an opportunity for Scottish Borders councillors and planners to see small-scale wind turbines in a rural setting, with a question and answer session with the turbine manufacturer, and a meeting with East Ayrshire Council, to allow the two councils to compare and contrast their approaches to dealing with small to medium scale renewable energy planning permission.
A "Farming Energy" Conference in February 2007, organised in conjunction with Scottish Enterprise Borders, was attended by 100 delegates. Borders Machinery Ring and the Energy Saving Trust ran stands at the event offering advice to farmers. In January 2008 around 30 farmers attended an event on undertaking carbon calculations for farms.
Experience from some of the farm assessments of renewable energy investment potential on farms showed that there was demand for a wind monitoring service. BEFF undertook research into monitoring options and towards the end of 2007 invested in two wind monitoring kits and was thus able to provide farmers with a 10m or 12m wind-measuring kit suitable for monitoring wind speed over a three-month period, data from this period allowing an estimate of a site's potential for turbines of up to around 20kW. Beyond that, turbines will have a higher hub, while lenders and Council planners may require a full year of data.
There was work on the potential of biomass heating, including an assessment of the woodland resources that would be available for wood chip and wood pellet production. This included setting up an initial group interested in forming a supply co-operative along with a dedicated website to publicise this opportunity and to ensure that it provided a useful tool for interested farmers and landowners.
The price of heating oil (kerosene) at one point fell by almost half during the course of the project, reducing the incentive for investment in biomass heating in the short term. However, the biomass supply chain will become more viable as and when oil prices rise again. Heating needs of two swimming pools (which require major water and space heating) in the Borders were likely to be met by biomass as a result of BEFF advocacy.
Interest in the project in the farming community was high, and it benefited from the support of Scottish Enterprise Borders, Scottish Borders Council, NFU Scotland, and the cooperation of the Energy Saving Trust. Energy audits and feasibility studies were very popular. From these certain sites looked very promising for renewable energy installations, including wind power and micro hydro options.
Despite the assistance given to farmers in identifying the potential for renewables and provide an understanding of the costs involved and the likely revenue generated and carbon saved, investment in renewables from individual farmers was not realised, largely due to the current costs of renewable technologies compared with the current (relatively cheap) cost of both power and heating - figures which contribute to the payback period for any investment. Work focussed on biomass in the final year as this appeared to be the most financially viable prospect.
The project was successful in raising awareness of renewable energy, and in providing a range of subsidised renewable energy assessment services. The advocacy and renewable energy assessment services provided by the project led to several installations of renewable energy in the Borders, in wind, micro-hydro and in biomass supply and heating.
BEFF demonstrated significant interest in the potential for renewable energy investment amongst farmers and in Scottish Borders Council and helped to establish some much needed local examples of renewable energy generation and usage. There was a steady demand for the renewable energy assessment services provided by BEFF. However, lack of familiarity with renewable technologies, and uncertainty about payback periods, generally estimated to be greater than five years, remained a major barrier to widespread investment by individuals. These are unlikely to be long-term barriers.
The project team considered that some aspects of the project would be suitable for further support, and they made an application for Leader funds in the final stages of the project. Continued support would help the Borders community to switch to renewables before fossil-fuel based power starts to rise in price again.
Contact: SIStech Ltd, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh. EH14 4AS
Tel: 0131 451 8162