Working with the rural community for 28 years gave Rod McGovern the insight he needed to set up a business helping landowners get their renewable energy projects off the ground.
The 50-year-old launched FarmEnergy Consulting of Kemnay last July. Using knowledge gained while working for the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), the former agricultural engineer’s company provides rural landowners with advice.
Mr McGovern said: “Although some landowners are now able to access government funding to get their renewable energy projects off the ground, and there is guaranteed income from the feed-in tariff, the planning application process is still complex and expensive.
“At SAC, I worked on numerous rural development projects which gave me an in-depth understanding of what local authorities need and want from a planning application. That knowledge coupled with the growing interest in ‘green’ energy gave me the confidence to start a business that guides landowners through the whole planning process – from providing general advice, monitoring and assessment to submitting a planning application for them.
“When the college decided to focus its renewable energy team in Edinburgh I saw the opportunity to set up my own company, even although I’d never thought of doing so in the past.”
Adam Watson, a business adviser with Business Gateway, said: “Rod could see that his skill set would benefit a growing market in the local area, so turned to us for advice. He accessed all the support available to him via our website, through one-to-one adviser meetings and by attending workshops.”