Year of energy generation completed on South West farm
Newton Stewart dairy farmer Ian Service will open his doors to farmers and the renewables community for the third – and final – time next week (Thursday, 12 November).
Since the Renewable Development Initiative (RDI) first visited Mr Service in February 2014, a herd of 600 dairy cows has been established at the farm and the 150kW anaerobic digestion (AD) plant integrated into the new dairy started generating energy in October 2014. The RDI last visited the site in December 2014.
As with all AD plants, there have been teething problems and this open day will give attendees an excellent opportunity to see first-hand a system that has now been operational for more than a year. As with previous events, Mr Service will provide a “warts and all” discussion on the challenges he has faced in establishing the plant. There will also be presentations from the AD plant installer, the energy regulator Ofgem and SEPA.
The Union’s three-year RDI project is designed to provide sound, independent advice to farmers and land managers across Scotland on renewable energy. Through a programme of on-farm events, co-ordinated by Thomas McMillan of Savills Smiths Gore, the initiative has already shown hundreds of Scottish farmers and land managers energy projects that are contributing to farm businesses or are at the planning stage.
It is meeting its aim of helping Scottish farmers and land managers fulfil their energy generating potential.
• The anaerobic digestion open day will take place at East Knockbrex Farm, Newton Stewart, DG8 6QE on Thursday, 14 November 2015 meeting at 10.00am for 10.30am start.
