BUSINESS SERVICES
RENEWABLES
FRAM FARMERS LAUNCHES RENEWABLES SERVICE Fram Farmers is pleased to launch its first new service under the expanding Business Services Division, with the introduction of Renewables & Energy Management. Dan Cox, Fram Farmers’ new Business Services Manager explains, “With electricity prices likely to treble in the next 10 years, a greater emphasis on ‘Green Energy’, and the government’s ‘net zero’ target, the need for businesses to generate their own renewable energy has never been greater. “In addition, the supply chain is under increasing pressure from retailers to become greener, so this is an area that is becoming more of a necessity when negotiating supplier contracts,” he adds.
“...coupled with the increasing price of electricity, means that the pay-back period can be as good as 5-7 years.” Despite the Government removing the feed in tariff (FIT) last year, investment in renewable technology has become increasingly popular, thanks to the significant reduction in the cost of the solar panels. This, coupled with the increasing price of electricity, means that the payback period can be as good as 5-7 years. Dan adds, “We have teamed up with a small number of hugely experienced renewables suppliers, recognised for successfully servicing the agricultural and rural industries for over 10 years.”
CASE STUDy 1 - Onion store roof mounted solar PV A Cambridgeshire-based Fram Farmers member wanted to investigate the viability of solar panels, with his onion store consuming a large amount of electricity. The supplier visited the site, took a detailed look at how power was used, then designed an 81kw East/West roof-mounted Solar PV array, to provide a constant supply of energy throughout the day. The farm is now benefitting from utilising the energy that the PV system produces, whilst also getting paid for exporting excess energy during times of low site electricity demand. The farmer had seen the opportunity of using the roof of the onion store as an asset and modelled its performance and costsaving in the same way he views his crop. • • • •
Output – 71,520 kWh per year 18.3 tonnes of CO2 saved per year Equivalent of 2304 trees planted Return on investment of 5-6 years
The next step is to investigate battery storage, so excess electricity can be stored for use when the sun isn’t shining! Dan adds, “In 2011 the cost of a roof-mounted 50kW Solar PV system would be around £110k. Today the same system would cost roughly £36k. The quality of the systems has not been compromised and the cumulative benefits have improved.”
CASE STUDy 2 - Ground mounted Solar PV In early 2013, James Foskett Farms Ltd, based near Woodbridge, East Suffolk, installed this 244.8 kW ground mounted Solar PV array. Since its commissioning, the system has been producing an average 225,000 kWh of electricity per year, providing a huge saving on electricity bills. The generation of the Solar PV array supplements the activities on site, such as the cold storage, crop grading and the offices. Electricity not used is sent to the National Grid, earning a payment through an export Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Operation of the Solar PV system is relatively straightforward, but James has recently booked one of Fram’s FREE health checks for his system, to ensure each panel is performing to its potential. 22
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