Farmers will be 'blown away' by wind turbine potential

Mr Stanton, director of Clean Power Solutions, said new government incentives due to come into play in April 2010, will give farmers huge financial reward if they install a ‘small’ turbine on their property.

But he said many farmers were simply unaware of the opportunities available.

“You may not be aware that from April the Government is going to pay FIT (Feed In Tariff) payments to anyone who creates electricity from renewable sources.

“If a farmer puts up a small 10Kw turbine on a 9 metre pole then he will save £15,000 in FIT payments and energy savings every year,” said Mr Stanton.

FITs are paid for the production of electricity regardless of whether the electricity is used by the producer or sold to the National Grid.

Mr Stanton said the cost of installing the turbine, along with a 30Kw air source heat pump would be about £46,000 but he added grants were available.

“The Lancashire council and many other councils around the country will give a £20,000 grant towards it all and much of the other cost can be borrowed from the Carbon Trust as an interest free loan,” he said.

But even if grants are hard to come by, he said the payback time would be rapid.

“Because the farmer doesn’t have to pay electricity bills and all his heating for his farm and business is free, payback is quick. Once the turbine and heat pump have paid for themselves in 3 years, the farmer then gets a tax-free income guaranteed from the government for the next 20 years.

“It’s a no-brainer,” he said.

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