Energy Saving Loans for Farmers Announced

Energy Saving Loans for Farmers Announced

The Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn, has announced that from 1 February 2010 British farmers will be eligible for unsecured, interest-free loans of between £3,000 and £20,000 to help them upgrade to more energy-efficient equipment. The loans are designed to pay for themselves through direct energy savings provided over one to four years. After the loan is repaid, farmers will make direct savings on their energy costs, as well as cutting the carbon footprint of what they produce. The aim is to cut energy bills by a total of £4 million, and 25,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, using interest-free loans from the Carbon Trust.

Examples of energy efficiency upgrades which the Carbon Trust loans will fund are as follows:

Thermal screens, used in greenhouse horticulture, typically cost up to £20,000, and can save over £10,000/100 tonnes of CO2 annually.
Milk cooling systems, cost £3,000 and save up to £1,000/6 tonnes of CO2 a year.
Insulation used in field horticulture crop stores, typically costs around £17,000, and saves up to £10,000/50 tonnes of CO2 a year.
Upgrading heating and ventilation controls in livestock farms, typically costs £3,000, and saves over £4,000/23 tonnes of CO2 a year.
Grain drying humidity controls, used in arable farming, typically costs £3,000, and saves around £1,500/10 tonnes of CO2 a year.
Farmers cannot apply in advance for the loans, but they can register for a call back from the Carbon Trust after the loans become available.

For further information please contact Linda Ianson at Blackpool Wyre & Fylde CVS or you can visit the website for more information www.defra.gov.uk