Switched on hill farmers micro hydro could offset 5-10% core costs

New study confirms sustainable source of natural power for upland farms

A new study on micro hydro power, commissioned on behalf of seven farmers in the Northumberland uplands, shows that hill farms, which operate on tight margins and face a challenging economic future, can achieve substantial cost savings and reduced carbon emissions with on-farm power generation.

The study, funded by the Northumberland Uplands Local Action Group (NULAG) and Northumberland National Park Authority, shows the potential contribution of 5-10% towards core farm costs. Co-ordinated on behalf of the farmer group by Graham Dixon of Alwinton Farm, the project was managed by FAI from Oxford and carried out by local hydrology engineers Jona Aal and Ian Benson.

The seven farms are located in the Coquet and Breamish valleys and all have a significant natural water resource. Many remote farms in the Cheviots are not even on the national grid; they are powered by diesel generators which are inefficient and extremely expensive to run, contributing significantly to the overhead of farming families living in these areas. These restrictions prohibit many activities  requiring power that families with easy access to energy take for granted.

At five of the seven farms assessed, micro hydro electricity generation was found to deliver important economic benefits alongside carbon emissions reductions.

Graham Dixon (pictured) said There has been much publicity regarding renewable energy production on farms but what we needed were some hard facts to show what is feasible for specific sites. This study has provided us with the necessary engineering data and projected costings for each individual farm involved.

Graham Dixon commissioned this report following the publication of a carbon foot-printing report for his and a neighbouring farm conducted last year. It is critical that we find practical measures that may be implemented to respond to the environmental and economic issues facing our farms Dixon said. This is why we are working on a project by project basis with the FAI.

FAI has developed the 3e model (economic, environmental, ethical) for developing future strategies for food and farming businesses. Roland Bonney, Director FAI, says What is clear with micro hydro is that one size does not fit all. When locally adapted, however, farm scale energy production has much to offer. We now need to implement some representative local pilot schemes to assess cost efficient ways of maximizing this opportunity on as many farms as possible.

Tony Gates, Chief Executive of Northumberland National Park Authority said: The Authority is determined to make the National Park a distinctively low carbon area with a good quality of life and work, and we are supporting a range of measures to enable this to happen.

Sustainable land management  is the most important factor in shaping the future of our National Parks. We applaud the foresight of Graham Dixon and his colleagues in seeking practical solutions to the significant challenges facing the uplands, and were committed to working with them to help take their ideas forward.

Roger Wilson, Chair of NULAG said This collaboration is a great example of how sharing energy and ideas can give farmers confidence and enthusiasm for a sustainable and rewarding future in the Uplands. NULAG uses the Leader approach to make funding decisions. The funding is being made available through the Rural Development Programme for England, which is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union, and is managed by One North East in the North East region.

The full report on micro-hydro for the farm group is available for download at: http://www.sendspace.com/file/qgp20m.

Northumberland National Park One of Britains Breathing Spaces

Northumberland National Park cares for the landscape and cultural heritage of 405 square miles (105,000 hectares) – over a fifth of Northumberland from Hadrians Wall to the Scottish border. A regional treasure for the North East, some six million people are within an hours drive of our wide open and sparsely populated upland spaces.

With the help of our dedicated volunteers we look after more than 1100 kilometres of Rights of Way – including two national trails and a number of long distance walking, cycling and horse riding trails, and the central, most visited section of Hadrians Wall World Heritage Site.  32 Sites of Special Scientific Interest covering over 10,000 hectares, one Ramsar Site; three National Nature Reserves and 6 Special Areas of Conservation fall within the boundary of the National Park.

According to the Environment Agency, only five of England and Waless 6,114 rivers and their tributaries have reached the highest ranking for overall quality and purity, and four of these are in Northumberland National Park – The Ridlees Burn, Barrow Burn Catchment, River Till Catchment and Linhope Burn.

Our work includes protecting the landscape from inappropriate development and maintaining the infrastructure that helps people to have access to the countryside. We conserve natural and historical features that are tourist assets to the local and regional economy; support the local community and businesses with advice, expertise and grant funding, and help to promote the area to visitors.  In all these endeavours we put the interests of the community first.

Northumberland National Park is committed to sustainable living and working and has taken a strong position on climate change. As part of our positive action we have invested with partners in a large programme to restore the Border Mires habitats that are important for carbon storage and flood alleviation. We are working with farmers and landowners to maintain healthy soils, landscapes and habitats; supporting sustainable enterprises and transport, promoting the Green Tourism Business Scheme in our region and encouraging domestic and community-scale renewable energy. We are also firmly committed to reducing our own carbon footprint by 2012. To this end we have developed an ethical procurement policy and are adapting our buildings and practices to be increasingly sustainable.

Northumberland National Park Visitor Centres are situated at Once Brewed on Hadrians Wall (Gold Award Green Tourism Business 2008; Enjoy England Gold Tourism National Award 2007), at The Coquetdale Centre in Rothbury (Gold Award for Green Tourism Business 2009; Best TiC in North East England for Excellence Awards 2007) and at Ingram in the Breamish Valley, Cheviots (Gold Award Green Tourism Business Scheme 2009 / Best Visitor Experience 2006).

Northumberland National Park celebrated its 50th year of designation in 2006. It was officially designated as the most tranquil place in the country in the CPREs Tranquillity Mapping Report.

Northumberland National Park Authority is committed to ensuring equality and diversity for all who live, work in and visit the National Park. In everything we do, we aim to remove unfairness and promote equality of opportunity, equal access for all and good relations between people from all backgrounds. Read our Comprehensive Equality Scheme.

For more about us please visit: www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk.  Visit the family of UK National Parks at: www.nationalparks.gov.uk