I was joined by our Commercial Manager Luke Francis at a recent Renewable Energy event on Dartmoor. Organised by the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project (DHFP*) it set out to demonstrate the best options for maximum cost savings and opportunities to ensure renewable energy becomes an integral part of farming infrastructure.
The DHFP is a small team, working across the region providing advice, support, training and skills, all of which are vital for a more sustainable future for our farmers.
The practical, in person, on-farm events have proved to be one of the most effective ways to demonstrate sustainability where farmers can ask questions and learn from others’ first hand experience.
Our host farm, Broadaford, had an existing 50kW PV array, installed by Mole Energy in 2014 and the business is now planning on extending PV capacity and adding battery storage.
Dartmoor Farming Officer, Hazel Kendall, who organised the event, said:
Not only are solar panels performing more efficiently and being driven by greater sustainability in production but battery storage has also improved greatly. The Tesla Powerwall was one of the items demonstrated that could form part of such a package
Hazel Kendall, Dartmoor Farming Officer
Broadaford Farm
Planning
More than 30 farmers also heard about planning regulations relating to potential installations from the Dartmoor National Park Authority.
There is a misconception national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) have different planning laws. Generally speaking, solar installations that are roof mounted do not require planning permission regardless of being in an AONB (National Landscapes) or a national park, unless the property is listed.
However, for good practice, we work closely with national parks to minimise the visual impact of installations, although this isn’t a planning requirement. Planning is only required if you are installing a ground mounted array.
