Energy Now Presentation - Jonathan Scurlock

Opening address

Transcript

1. Opening Address Dr Jonathan Scurlock Chief Advisor, 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 Welcome Dr Jonathan Scurlock Chief Adviser, Renewable Energy and Climate Change National Farmers Union of England and Wales Energy Now Expo Malvern Showground, Worcs., 15 Feb 2012 The NFU champions British farming and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members
3. • climate change - never-ending media coverage? warmer/wetter/more extreme events, looking towards 2020 and 2050 – agriculture in ‘front line’ • volatile oil prices, shaky energy security: $147/bbl (2008), now ~$120 as world recovers from recession • an end to declining producer prices? – at last food security is important due to globalisation, world food concerns, and new non-food markets (biofuels/bioenergy) • ‘Perfect storm’ of climate change, energy and food security, converging to drive policy – a threat (increasing input costs and red tape) – or an opportunity? (self sufficiency, diversity) Should farmers be worried about these? Oil price $/bbl 2010 - 2011 The NFU champions British farming, and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members
4. The NFU champions British farming, and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members • climate change  GHG emissions reduction, international and national policy (despite weak Copenhagen Accord, targets are 80% reductions and 2 C limit for global temperature rise by 2050) • renewable energy - challenging 2020 EU and UK targets – incentives for electricity, transport fuels, and now heating • Farmers offer ‘part of the solution’ to energy security, food security and tackling CC • private sector also becoming an important driver – perceived demand for “low-carbon” food and other products (PAS 2050) • invest now in renewables!  stable energy costs, diversification of income, lower C footprint Why this is important for agriculture Energy industries Manufacturing and construction Transport Agriculture UK GHG emissions Agric = 8.5%
5. A wide choice of renewables for farmers
6. The greatest diversification opportunity in a generation? A variety of technologies – at small, medium and large scale – can supplement farm incomes and sustain rural livelihoods, directly and indirectly Renewables can meet on-site electricity needs for heating, feeders, ventilation, etc. – as well as exported power
7. Solar roofs should be a ‘no-brainer’ – both for farmers and for government policy makers Roof-mounted PV for intensive livestock housing, grain stores, dairy barns: examples from The Netherlands, Germany, USA and UK
8. Large-scale solar farms present new challenges The first few installations are setting long-term standards for the UK industry
9. The NFU champions British farming and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members Growing range of government incentives, gradually improving but with some confusing and sometimes negative signals to investors • Renewables Obligation – tradeable ROC certificates to fulfil growing obligation – from 3% in 2002 to 15% in 2015. Best suited to large electricity generation projects with risk-based finance • Feed-In Tariffs – introduced April 2010 for solar PV, wind, hydro- electric and anaerobic digestion up to 5 MW. Index-linked, govt- backed and low-risk, modelled on schemes elsewhere in Europe • Renewable Heat Incentive – consultation response published March 2011, for ‘summer’ implementation, then delayed to 28th November. Relatively high reward rate (up to 12% gross) to grow supply chain and deployment rapidly, in two phases – focus initially on non-domestic sector
10. Renewable Heat Incentive – good and bad • From end November 2011 – Phase I aimed at non- domestic sector (domestic Phase II to follow in late 2012) • Just two projects successful so far, many more in pipeline • rural communities expected to benefit, since many 'off-grid' homes and businesses have limited and expensive choice of fossil fuels • many forms of low-carbon heating have a natural fit with the diversity of agricultural entreprises • NFU concerns persist that DECC and Defra have not yet recognised the potential of agriculture to supply a wide range of sustainable bioenergy feedstocks (straw, wood fuel, perennial energy crops, silage maize for AD, including upgrading to biomethane) The NFU champions British farming, and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members
11. Solar water heating for agriculture • Dairy parlour wash water one of the main applications (~100 kWh/cow/year) • Metered water heating supported by Renewable Heat Incentive The NFU champions British farming, and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members Germany
12. The NFU champions British farming and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members New NFU Farm Energy Service ‘Soft launch’ in December 2011 – call 0870 844 5700 Formal promotion starts at NFU Annual Conference, February 2012
13. The NFU champions British farming, and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members Opening thoughts – yes, we can! • Farmers and growers are not just ‘in the front line’ of climate change – we offer resource efficiency and renewable energy as solutions • Agriculture/horticulture enjoys many natural energy resources: for on-site power, fuels/heat, and export of energy to other sectors • Government policy and consumer pressure  low-carbon products from agriculture, including both food and energy services Dr Jonathan Scurlock Chief Policy Adviser, Renewable Energy and Climate Change National Farmers’ Union Stoneleigh Park Warwicks CV8 2TZ jonathan.scurlock@nfu.org.uk
14. Energy Now Expo Conference 2012