The government should introduce a capital grant scheme to
promote the use of crops and agricultural wastes as sources of
renewable energy, the NFU has said
The union made the call in its response to a Department of Trade
and Industry consultation entitled Securing clean afford-
able energy for the long-term.
The grant scheme, should run for at least five years, covering
40% of the start-up costs associated in establishing a combined
heat and power production facility, the NFU said.
Rather than just offer grants to those who can secure a market
for selling their own energy the NFU is advocating the combined
units be given equal consideration by government planners and
Regional Development Authorities when considering major public
spending programmes.
NFU president Peter Kendall said:
"UK agriculture is in a pivotal position to meet the challenge
of renewable fuels domestically and to help reduce the carbon
emissions of the road transport sector.
"The UK must invest now or it will not be in a position to
benefit from future technologies.
The investment will go to those countries with the
infrastructure already in place and with proven biofuel
industries."
The NFU report also added support for the EU's call for 20% of
energy demand to be supplied from renewable sources by 2020 and
urged the government to take a more holistic approach to energy
policy in general.
Where developments are planned in remote areas, biomass plants
should be given preference due to the large quantities of power
lost in carrying energy over power lines, it said.
In addition the NFU has called for a carbon accreditation scheme
to link with the current farm assurance schemes.