Government must recognise farmers are part of the solution to decarbonise energy, says Arla Foods

Farmers across the country can be part of the solution to decarbonise energy and boost energy independence. 

That was the message from Arla Food's UK agricultural director, Paul Dover, adding that solar on shed roofs and the ability to create green energy from cow caste could make a 'huge difference' when it comes to achieving the country's national targets for energy and emissions. 

Green energy

Mr Dover said: "The new Labour Government has only been in post for a week. But its determination to move quickly on energy policy is already clear."

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But he said there was too much focus on the 'transmission network and speeding up connections for major new generating assets such as windfarms', and not enough attention and investment into smaller scale project like on-farm solar panels.

Delays and red tape

He said: "Technologies like on-roof solar arrays are often frustrated by the cost of securing a connection to the distribution grid, delays in getting these connections and other red tape. And there is huge potential for anaerobic digestion to play its part, but the lack of a joined up national strategy is holding it back.

 "As the UK's biggest dairy cooperative with 2,000 UK farmer owners, Arla Foods is calling on the Government to pay attention to these areas, reviewing the regulatory regimes and making the practical changes needed to accelerate progress," Mr Dover said. 

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Clean energy targets

He added hitting the target of making clean energy by 2030 was 'not going to be easy', but said it would be helpful if the Government embraced some of these 'smaller, but impactful measures.' 

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"They don't need planning reforms or new legislation so we can move quickly to leverage their potential. We just need the right moves from Ministers and the new Mission Control; with their backing our farmers, who work tirelessly to produce our food, can also help secure the future of our energy," Mr Dover said.