Steve Edmunds
Last year’s Farmers Weekly Green Energy Farmer of the Year, Steve Edmunds, speaks to Dairy Update about how dairy producers can get into renewable energy and the common piftfalls to avoid
Steve Edmunds runs a 200-head dairy unit in partnership with his brother. His journey into renewable energy began six years ago and he has since become a pioneer of farmscale renewables developments.
His farm is home to a host of renewables technologies, including biomass boilers, a 5kW wind turbine and a 90kW ground-mounted PV, which provides the dairy with 50% of its power requirements. Through Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs), the solar arrays earn the farm £41,500 a year alone.
He gives people advice on energy on farms and his farm has become a demonstration site for renewables engineering. Being the first to undertake new projects means he has had to learn the rules and regulations quickly to set an example for others to follow. We asked him for his insights and advice.
QHow did you get into renewables?
I was looking at the potential for increasing the farm income and diversifying into something new.
QWhat type of renewable energy do you have on your family farm? And what savings have these amassed?
We have PV, wind, biomass, solar thermal and GSHP. It has generated enough money for extra family income from the same farm.
QWhat are the other benefits of a renewable energy on a dairy farm?
Apart from the extra income we have also benefited from lower energy costs to the business, without increasing work demand.
QWhat would your advice be to any dairy farmers looking to cut energy costs and invest in renewable energy?
Research what types of technology are suitable for you and only work with a company you know and trust.
QExplain the step-by-step process of starting a renewable energy project? Are there any hiccups that can be avoided along the way?
Research as much as you can, that’s key. Then plan, get permission, fund, build and be prepared to fine-tune your project. Go to demonstration sites and see what options are available to you and discuss the do’s and don’ts with someone.
Q How do you see renewable energy fitting into a dairy farm in the future? Do you think there will be new developments for example?
Energy security and cost will get more and more important and spreading income sources will give more stability to businesses. I also think lower cost AD projects will spread its uptake.
QWhat do you think is the biggest barrier preventing dairy farmers from investing in renewables technologies? How do you think this can be improved to make it easier in the future?
Funding and the grids ability to accept more localised generation is currently the two biggest challenges faced by those wishing to invest. Both are improving, but the government must do more to upgrade grids.
QHow do you determine what size you need? Do farmers always have to think big or can smaller scale projects work just as well?
That’s a factor of risk and reward, funding availability, grid export potential and planning permissions. It can work at all levels.
QYou’ve got a lot of different types of renewable energy on your farm. What do you think works best and why?
PV, wind and biomass have all shown very good returns and are easily looked after. They have the added benefit of reducing farm costs at the same time.
Farm facts
Ashcott Farm, Somerset
❚ 142ha dairy and beef farm
❚ Milks 200 Holsteins, producing 7,000 litres
❚ Renewable energy demonstration farm