Farming Futures on Energy Production

Farming Futures, the communications collaboration between various farming bodies, was on Farming Today (BBC Radio 4) this morning discussing how farmers should start to see their land as an energy source as well as a food source.

Claire White of Farming Futures described how a large number of farmers installing single wind turbines in the right locations could contribute an 'essential but small part of the UK's electricity generation'. She thought that 1000MW of power was not unrealistic.

Claire White continues:

We are hearing a few stories here and there of farmers involving the local community or co-operatives getting together, but I have to say from my experience the majority are looking to look after them themselves and their own farm buildings first and then selling into the grid directly. But I would hope to see more co-operatives, and of course if you're talking about wind energy obviously a big part of it is involving the local community, getting some really good consultation and making sure that people are comfortable with the plans you've put in place.

The UK is the windiest country in Europe, and farmers and land managers control about 75% of that land mass I believe, so obviously wind is going to be a huge part of our energy generating future and farmers can be a huge part of that.

For the audio transcript, listen here: Farming: 16 Feb 10 Green Farm Energy.