The RHI Scheme gives financial supports to non-domestic operations including farms, for the heat that they use from renewable sources, such as biomass and solar thermal. This scheme has the potential to greatly benefit farmers, particularly those with their own biomass fuel supply like poultry manure or horse manure etc. Yet many farmers are not familiar with the new scheme.
I have a customer who is a poultry farmer, and he achieved a payback on his biomass boiler of two and a half years from the savings he made on his energy bills. That was before the RHI Scheme. Farmers should seriously consider the RHI Scheme, they will be surprised at the savings they can make. says Sean Gilbride, CEO, lakelandrenewables.co.uk.
It seems that a lot of farmers simply don’t have the time to keep track of new renewable energy grants and supports. As energy costs continue to rise, biomass and solar look more and more attractive and the agricultural sector can benefit most.
According to Sean Gilbride the RHI Scheme makes renewable energy an essential asset for any farm. Many waste products produced locally can be used to fuel biomass boilers. This reduces waste management costs along with the energy savings you would expect from your energy bills.
All in all it’s definitely worthwhile doing the analysis to determine if a renewable energy system is right for your farm.