June 2011 (as seen in The Farmer)

Paul's solar investment is not just chicken feed

Shropshire farmer Paul Parton could make more than half a million pounds over the next 25 years by generating his own energy through solar PV panels installed on the roofs of his poultry units.

Paul, who runs Parton’s Poulets in Market Drayton, is among the growing ranks of farmers nationwide finding new non-agricultural means of generating income in an increasingly competitive industry.

And with fuel prices rocketing and no sign of them slowing down in the current Middle Eastern crisis, saving energy – and selling the remainder back into the national grid under the government’s Feed in Tariff scheme - makes economic as well as environmental sense.

Mr Parton chose farm specialist company Hestia, which has been providing independent energy advice to property owners, businesses and the public sector since 1993, to design and install two 50kWp systems at different farms which require only 300m2 of roof area.

Hestia director Keith Bennett explained: “Paul’s decision to invest in solar PV was driven by a desire to diversify. We are seeing an increasing number of enquiries from the agricultural sector for solar PV as income from farming is variable and weather dependent. The ever increasing cost of feed due to global soft commodity prices and fuel puts extra pressure on the bottom line. Solar PV is the steadiest and most secure of the renewable energy technologies.

“Planning consent is not a problem for PV on farm buildings - unlike wind which seems to cause an irrational fear from neighbours who are expecting a 100m turbine. Banks seem more willing to lend on solar PV at the moment too as the government has guaranteed its tariffs which mean a healthy annual return on investment. And, as the icing on the cake, there are tax advantages which are likely to vary depending on individual business circumstances

“As the government tariff has recently been launched and is a fixed 25 year term, it would make sense to start looking into it as soon as possible to maximise returns.”

Parton's Poulets' systems which cost around £260,000, are likely to generate around £32,000 in payments and savings in their first year of operation rising to £52,000 in their 25th year based on current forecasts, which in percentage terms represents an annual return on investmnet of between 12 and 20 per cent.

Shropshire farmer Paul Parton inspects solar PV panels to be installed at Parton’s Poulets.

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