Farm-based energy projects are key to meeting Scotland’s renewable energy targets, according to NFU Scotland.
However, farmers need to be given guarantees over future subsidy support and government plans to boost farm-scale energy projects must be implemented quickly, said president Nigel Miller.
He said farm-based energy projects were in an ideal place to help fill a shortfall in the energy market and add to the £20million electricity value already generated on farm and by small businesses.
“The sector in Scotland still faces challenges and the Scottish Government’s recently launched AgriRenewables strategy must pick up the pace, working quickly to rebalance the operating and planning environment for those investing in new projects,” said Mr Miller at the AgriEnergy conference in Inverurie this week.
“The availability of grid connection, particularly in remote areas, is a block in the system that deserves priority status.”
Energy projects still offered farmers the opportunity to strip costs out of farm energy bills, despite scaling back of subsidy support for some technologies, said Mr Miller.
He said: “On many farms energy developments are still continuing as improved technology helps to create efficiency and value in a more commercial world.”
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