The capacity for UK farms to produce renewable energy
Where we started. How can we unlock the massive potential of farms to generate and sell energy and fuels, given the regulatory and financial barriers hindering this process?
Farm-scale Anaerobic Digestion
As South East England's Anaerobic Digestion Champion, Andrew Rigg’s role is to discover the optimum locations for anaerobic digestion plants in the South East and help farmers install digesters on their land. Read more...
Farm-scale and Microgeneration Test Centre
Hard data to compare the performance of farm-scale renewables is unavailable. We are conducting a feasibility assessment for a farm-scale and microgeneration test centre which would provide neutral information on the performance of a range of renewable energy generation technologies.
The Farm of the Future
We are developing a vision for low-emission farming in the UK. Specifically, we are identifying policy, finance and technology gaps hindering low-emission farming and examining ways of better integrating farms into local and regional emissions reductions plans.
Community-owned Energy Services Company (ESCO)
We are setting up a Community-owned energy services company to fund emissions reduction activity in Hampshire and test novel finance and governance models for community ownership of energy generating capacity.
Novel finance for low carbon projects
Farmers are currently barred from receiving most support for renewables by State Aid Rules, so we are developing alternative methods of funding low carbon projects. These include:
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Loans made to meter points securitised against savings in future energy use at the meter point (read more about this project, a domestic retrofitting version of which was shortlisted by the SDC in their 'Breakthrough Ideas for the 21st Century')
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The creation of Local Carbon Offset and Investment Trusts to channel local offsetting into a single fund that will finance local projects that generate renewable energy, improve energy efficiency and sequester carbon.
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Aggregating emissions reductions for sale in carbon trading markets
