This document discusses how renewable energy is becoming an increasingly important source of income for farmers in Britain. It notes that by 2013, one third of farmers had invested in renewable energy sources like anaerobic digestion, solar panels, wind turbines, and biomass. While renewable energy presents opportunities, the document acknowledges that it also involves challenges like high costs, regulatory hurdles, and technological uncertainties. It focuses on debunking common myths about anaerobic digestion, finding it to be a practical and economically viable technology that can provide farms with a reliable income stream through energy production and sales. The document encourages farmers to carefully research their renewable options rather than be dissuaded by myths.

1. TOO MUCH HOT AIR
www.energ.co.uk/CHP
The key myths around using biogas for renewable energy

2. www.energ.co.uk/CHP
Building a
holiday let
Converting a
barn into offices
DIVERSIFICATION FOR
FARMERS ONCE MEANT:
Not any more

3. www.energ.co.uk/CHP
“Small-scale renewables don’t just produce
energy, they’re an essential way for Britain’s
farmers to earn a reliable income in a time of
volatile food prices, and so keep farming and
the wider rural economy afloat.”
RENEWABLE ENERGY COULD SOON OVERTAKE
RURAL TOURISM AS THE NUMBER ONE
DIVERSIFICATION FOR FARMERS
NFU vice president Guy Smith

4. www.energ.co.uk/CHP
THIS GREEN ENERGY
CAN OFFER:
Regular
income for 20
years or more
Significant
savings in
energy costs
Reduced
carbon
footprints
Opportunities
to diversify
revenue streams
CO2

5. www.energ.co.uk/CHP
By 2013, 1 in 3 farmers
had made the move
Almost 2 in 3 say they are
likely to in the near future
IN 2010, LESS THAN 5% OF FARMERS
HAD INVESTED IN RENEWABLES

6. www.energ.co.uk/CHP
THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT
TECHNOLOGIES TO CHOOSE FROM:
Anaerobic
digestion/
biogas
Solar
panels
Wind
turbines
Biomass Hydropower
But which one?

7. www.energ.co.uk/CHP
EACH TECHNOLOGY HAS
ITS BENEFITS AND RISKS.
EVERY FARM IS DIFFERENT.
You need to weigh everything up carefully…
…and this takes time and careful research.

8. www.energ.co.uk/CHP
IF YOU’VE STARTED TO INVESTIGATE
RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR YOUR FARM BUT
ARE STILL CONFUSED, YOU’RE NOT ALONE
A survey of 700 farmers in 2013 found that:
had concerns
about the
planning
process
said high
investment costs
are the biggest
challenge
feared
opposition
from the local
community
didn’t want
to face the
red-tape
involved
84% 53% 52% 45%

9. www.energ.co.uk/CHP
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD
THAT ANAEROBIC DIGESTION…
Costs too
much
Uses
unreliable
technology
Is not
practical
Struggles
to cut
energy bills
on the farm
Doesn’t create
a new income
stream for the
farmer
…but these aren’t necessarily true

10. www.energ.co.uk/CHP
IN THE CASE OF ANAEROBIC DIGESTION,
ORGANIC FARM WASTE CAN BE USED
EFFICIENTLY AND TURNED INTO:
Energy in the form
of biogas that can
be used to generate
heat and electricity
Biofertiliser that can
replace some chemical
fertilisers without the
struggle to implement it

11. www.energ.co.uk/CHP
STILL CONFUSED
ABOUT AD?
LET’S DEBUNK SOME
COMMON MYTHS...

12. www.energ.co.uk/CHP
THE MYTH:
THE FACTS:
AD USES UNRELIABLE TECHNOLOGY
• AD has been about for decades: in Exeter in 1895 they
used the process to fuel street lamps.
• Technology has improved markedly, especially in the
past 10 years.
• At the last count there were 185 operational AD plants
in the UK – over half of them (55%) are farm-fed.

13. www.energ.co.uk/CHP
THE MYTH:
THE FACTS:
AD JUST ISN’T PRACTICAL
• You’ll need space for the digesters, storage tanks and
CHP, but planners are often receptive to AD and the
local community can benefit from a reduction in odour.
• For a continuous fuel source, you’ll need a continuous
flow of feedstock – slurry supplemented by a small
amount of energy crops. It can take time to get the mix
right, but doing so will improve outputs considerably.

14. www.energ.co.uk/CHP
THE MYTH:
THE FACTS:
AD COSTS TOO MUCH
• This can be a big capital investment: you need
digesters, mixing tanks, and an engine to turn the
gas into energy and heat.
• But banks have woken up to the benefits AD can bring
to farm businesses.
• There is also funding available through the On Farm
Anaerobic Digestion Loan.
Did you know? The government offers grants of up to
£10,000 so farmers can carry out an assessment to
see whether anaerobic digestion works on their farm

15. www.energ.co.uk/CHP
THE MYTH:
THE FACTS:
AD STRUGGLES TO CUT THE FARM’S ENERGY BILLS
• Through AD you turn your farm’s waste into energy.
• Using Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technology
you can then capture heat and electricity to light and
heat buildings, power milk parlours etc.
• This means you are buying less energy in and not
susceptible to the volatile energy market prices.

16. www.energ.co.uk/CHP
THE MYTH:
THE FACTS:
IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
AD CAN’T CREATE A NEW INCOME STREAM
• For every kWh of energy you produce, you receive a payment.
• For AD the incentives can be doubled up if you generate heat
and power.
• You can also sell some of your renewable electricity to the grid.
The government is currently reviewing a
number of incentive schemes for renewables.

17. www.energ.co.uk/CHP
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO NEXT?
• This is a big decision.
• It’s a considerable investment.
• Get it right and there are good returns available.
• Get it wrong and there can be long-term implications.
• So you need to look at the facts … and see through the myths.
TAKEAWAYS:

18. Download Now
See how new energy sources
could benefit your farm:
Get your free eGuide now:
The Farmer’s Guide to
Renewable Energy
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