Scottish Renewables today has launched a major drive to urge farmers and landowners to 'get into renewables' at the Royal Highland Show. The green energy trade body has estimated that Scottish farms have the potential to generate electricity equivalent to one sixth of Scottish household's total demand by each farm installing just one small 15kW wind turbine.

Farming and land use is estimated to contribute to around a fifth of Scotland's climate change emissions while increasing fuel costs continue to be felt by rural communities and business.

Other small scale energy technologies such as wood fuel boilers and stoves, micro-hydro, ground and air source heat pumps, anaerobic digestion of slurry wastes and solar panels all have an equally important role to play in reducing on-farm greenhouse gas emissions and increasing security of energy supply.

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To stimulate interest in on-farm renewables, Scottish Renewables is launching with the Scottish Rural Property Business Association a brochure designed to show case small scale applications that are being used by estates in Scotland to reduce energy bills and diversify income. Scottish Renewables has a stand at the Royal Highland Show alongside a range of stands from renewables companies keen to connect with farmers, landowners and rural communities.

Jason Ormiston, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables said: "Scotland's farms and estates have renewable resources waiting to be harnessed in the battle against climate change and energy insecurity. As well as hosting larger scale technology such as windfarms, there are many small scale opportunities for farms to meet their own demands for fuel and electricity and to feed into the electricity grid. Our members are ready to reach out to all rural businesses to help them save cash and cut emissions in the years ahead."

He added: "We need a simplified planning process for small scale wind, these technologies are ready and waiting and the Scottish Government must shear away red tape to help rural businesses help themselves."

Douglas McAdam, Chief Executive of SRPBA said: "SRPBA welcomes this opportunity with Scottish Renewables to promote the benefits of renewable energy to rural land managers. Land owners are in a unique position to provide renewable energy through wind, hydro and biomass, and to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. Faced with increasing fuel costs, we must be prepared to explore and develop options presented by the renewables sector, both as rural businesses and as consumers."

(GK/JM)