The renewables cooperative
Posted: 15/12/10
Westcountry Agricultural retailer Mole Valley Farmers is establishing a cooperative for farmers to generate and sell electricity to the National Grid.
The cooperative of up to 15,000 farmers and landowners are being invited to participate in a virtual power station, comprising many small, low impact micro-generation units.
The concept is to optimise and promote renewable energy in the rural sector in an environmentally low impact way, benefitting the rural economy and reducing the Westcountry’s carbon footprint without impacting on food production, one of the staples of Somerset’s economy.
Initially, the scheme includes solar PV units and wind turbines, with anaerobic digestion (AD) and biomass added in the near future. Mole Valley is using its considerable buying power to source the most suitable products and its knowledge and network to share and encourage best practice.
Part of the scheme is a demo unit of various types of arrays of PV units for comparison, on a farm near Bridgwater, to which members of the cooperative are invited to see and discuss the various options available to them.
Established in 1960, Mole Valley Farmers is an Agricultural supplier and retailer with branches across Somerset and the Westcountry with a turnover in the region of £280m.
Director Steve Edmunds says, “We believe that most of our members could utilise PV to generate electricity and provide an important extra income source. Overall, the effect could be a significant reduction in CO2 output from farms.
“Our approach is broad and shallow – we want as many landowners to participate as possible.
“As well as the obvious environmental benefit, we can see a future commercial advantage as buyers look to source low carbon agricultural products.”
What does renewable energy mean for us? Seminar for Somerset landowners >>
Call Into Somerset now on 0845 122 2066 to register your interest in the renewables renaissance in Somerset.
The cooperative of up to 15,000 farmers and landowners are being invited to participate in a virtual power station, comprising many small, low impact micro-generation units.
The concept is to optimise and promote renewable energy in the rural sector in an environmentally low impact way, benefitting the rural economy and reducing the Westcountry’s carbon footprint without impacting on food production, one of the staples of Somerset’s economy.
Initially, the scheme includes solar PV units and wind turbines, with anaerobic digestion (AD) and biomass added in the near future. Mole Valley is using its considerable buying power to source the most suitable products and its knowledge and network to share and encourage best practice.
Part of the scheme is a demo unit of various types of arrays of PV units for comparison, on a farm near Bridgwater, to which members of the cooperative are invited to see and discuss the various options available to them.
Established in 1960, Mole Valley Farmers is an Agricultural supplier and retailer with branches across Somerset and the Westcountry with a turnover in the region of £280m.
Director Steve Edmunds says, “We believe that most of our members could utilise PV to generate electricity and provide an important extra income source. Overall, the effect could be a significant reduction in CO2 output from farms.
“Our approach is broad and shallow – we want as many landowners to participate as possible.
“As well as the obvious environmental benefit, we can see a future commercial advantage as buyers look to source low carbon agricultural products.”
What does renewable energy mean for us? Seminar for Somerset landowners >>
Call Into Somerset now on 0845 122 2066 to register your interest in the renewables renaissance in Somerset.