Cornish farm open day showcases advanced wind turbine

Cornish farmer Matthew Rowe, who has the UK’s most advanced wind turbine on his Liskeard dairy farm, is hosting a second open day for the benefit of other farmers and land owners who want to know more about possible cost savings from wind generated electricity.

Mr Rowe is the only farmer in the UK to have an operational X-29 turbine on his land and turbine specialists Earthmill have been overwhelmed with interest from other farmers across the South West wanting to see the turbine site first hand after a winter of high winds and record incomes from farm turbines.

The event at Great Tredinnick dairy farm takes place from 10am to 3pm on Friday March 7 and follows a successful day of visits by around 40 farmers in November.

It was last October that the first of the UK-built X29 225kW turbines was successfully installed and commissioned at the Cornish farm. It is now generating the equivalent electricity used by almost 150 homes.

December’s storms had a silver lining for many UK farmers with turbines installed as their power output leapt to record levels. More than 100 turbines installed on farms across the UK and managed by Earthmill generated over £600,000 in electricity during the month. The turbines also netted farmers savings of more than £200,000 in power costs, an average total yield of £8,000 per turbine.

“We have continued to get requests from farmers to come and see a working X-29 on a farm as this is the most advanced farm scale turbine in the UK,” said Steve Milner, managing director of Earthmill. “It is a great chance for farmers and landowners to chat to our team of experts about their farm’s wind energy potential, and the revenues they can generate to boost farm incomes from traditional crops,” he added.

Interested parties can just call into the site on March 7, although detailed directions can be obtained by calling 01937581011. Lunch and refreshments will be provided for visitors between 12 noon and 3pm.

Mr Milner added: “We are very grateful that Matthew is willing to tell other farmers about his experience in diversifying so successfully into generating power and enable them to see a working turbine first hand.”