Jonathan Scurlock

Conference Chair

Transcript

1. Dr Jonathan Scurlock Chief Adviser, Renewable Energy and Climate Change, National Farmers’ Union
2. The NFU champions British farming and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members Solar power overview: agriculture embraces PV at all scales Dr Jonathan Scurlock, Chief Adviser, Renewable Energy and Climate Change National Farmers Union of England and Wales Energy Now Expo Telford International Centre, 14 Feb 2013 The NFU champions British farming and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members
3. A lot can happen in less than 3 years! Torrent of commercial and media interest after Feed-In Tariffs introduced April 2010, but first solar farms only in July 2011 Despite DECC’s policy chaos, large-scale solar has progressed in fits and starts, cautiously welcomed for its modest impacts – not yet a public relations backlash 14 May 2010
4. One of UK’s biggest solar farms – 47 MW / 120 ha near Southampton (Vogt Solar) So far, mostly favourable public comment - and criticism of council leaders who may have backed housing instead! Proposals include wildflower meadows with bird and bat boxes, nature trail access for pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, etc. 15 Sep 2012 Solar has mostly escaped NIMBY opposition until now
5. Rooftop solar should be a ‘no-brainer’ – both for farmers and for government policy makers Roof-mounted PV for intensive livestock housing, grain stores, dairy barns: (The Netherlands, Germany, USA and UK) – now often permitted development, raises little NIMBYism except on architectural grounds, now in Renewables Roadmap PV can meet on-site electricity needs for heating, feeders, ventilation, etc. – as well as exported power
6. The NFU champions British farming, and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members Midi-scale solar power for poultry and pigs? • solar PV falling in cost, likely to be subsidy-free by 2020 • users with summer peak electricity needs expected to become economic first • e.g. £500k for 500 kW, generating 400 MWh/year • if only 50% on-site use, this is worth £20,000 @ 10p/unit, plus £9000 @ 4.5p/kWh exported • £29k on £500k = 5.8% ROI • Simples! 800kW, Germany 1 MW, Lincolnshire
7. The NFU champions British farming, and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members Solar power and... free-range poultry? Significant possibilities for dual- use of land, with birds ranging under shade and security provided by rows of modules (perhaps with trees as well) 800kW, Germany Examples from Thailand (above) and Germany (right)
8. The NFU champions British farming and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members ‘Walking the Walk”: NFU following its own advice to farmers and growers Installed Feb 2012 on new HQ conference building in Warwickshire 36kW – 288 Inventux thin-film modules, each 125 watts Predicted output 29 MWh/year, meeting 34-45% of needs for all-electric building Saving about £1400/year electricity costs About 10% return on investment NFU Conference Centre, Stoneleigh Park
9. Large-scale solar farms: a dual land-use challenge Britain’s 2011 installations set high standards for the future; Large-Scale Solar Strategy due Spring 2013
10. Not always a pretty sight How to mitigate the visual impact of large- scale “solar farms” through good design? How to engage with local communities to ensure smooth deployment of large-scale projects? (learn from wind power) Serpa, Portugal Nellis air force base, Las Vegas, USA
11. 5MW solar farm in Hampshire – set well back from road About 130 MW developed on agricultural land in 2011 – 500 MW of >10 MW projects expected before April 2013 – maybe 1000 MW total for 2012/13
12. • new/reinforced native hedgerow • new native woodland • wildflower meadow • pond restoration • bird and bat boxes • nature trail access for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders Positive planning gain – current examples
13. The NFU champions British farming and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members Guidance already available to developers • Cornwall Council – planning guide, 2010/11 • Natural England – TIN101 (in consultation with NFU and FWAG, 2011) • German Renewable Energy Agency "Solar Parks - opportunities for biodiversity“ (online guide)
14. The NFU champions British farming and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members Dual purpose land use • sheep grazing (popular with planners, as visual evidence of agricultural activity) – may involve addition EPC costs, e.g. armoured electric cables, etc. to reassure investors and insurers • silage cutting (for solar farms deployed on ‘improved’ pasture with high-quality grass) – requires careful layout and strict risk assessment, given potential for collision or stone-throw damage • environmental management (probably cheapest and least risky option) – including bird and bat boxes, engineered habitat for locally rare species, seeded forage plants for birds and insects, other measures typical of current ‘agri-environmental’ schemes
15. Best practice during installation Maturing solar industry can plan and build at less frenetic pace • Consider avoiding soil compaction and damage to land drains, e.g. low ground pressure tyres or tracked vehicles. • Choose mounting system to suit site conditions, archaeology, etc. • Store and replace topsoil and subsoil separately and in the right order. • Value added: reassure planners and local community, maintain good relations between landowner and developer, reduce remediation costs at the end of project – “solar stewardship” of land for lifetime of project (Photo courtesy Solar Power Generation Ltd.)
16. PV and agriculture – many ways forward • Falling module costs (£3000  £1000/kW) makes a range of scales attractive • NFU policy is to encourage farmers to assume risk/equity stake – renting land or roof space only through proper option agreements and well-written leases • 50 kW roof-mounted arrays (£50-60k) – around 10% ROI • 1 MW ground-mounted arrays (£900k-£1m) - within reach of secured-loan finance for many farmers, reasonable returns for on-site power users before government support • Solar farms for exported power – still scope for <5 MW under FITs?; otherwise 5-25 MW with ROCs, possibly merchant clean electricity for grid despatch in near future The NFU champions British farming, and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members • DECC and Defra have not yet appreciated potential land-based renewable energy contribution; diversification opportunity for agriculture, supporting both profitable food production and environmental protection • Farming Delivers Clean Energy! Germany One of the larger UK private PV schemes to date: Brooklands Farm (Herefordshire) 300 kW (photo courtesy Ben Whittle and Southern Solar)
17. The NFU champions British farming, and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members Take-home messages Dr Jonathan Scurlock Chief Policy Adviser, Renewable Energy and Climate Change National Farmers’ Union Stoneleigh Park Warwicks CV8 2TZ, UK jonathan.scurlock@nfu.org.uk • agriculture can access substantial natural energy resources, both for on-site power and export to other sectors • farmers and land-based sector have significant contribution to make to climate change mitigation and national energy supply • Ground and roof-mounted solar approaching first “retail grid parity”, then “wholesale grid parity”: only planning and grid access will hold it back – how large should we set our ambition? 10 GW = 9 TWh? (Wilburton Solar Farm: photo courtesy SolarCentury)