That was the message to a capacity audience at the Renewable Energy conference held at the Bartlow Estate on the 9th of March 2011. Organised by Ashton Graham, Ensors and Savills the event was an opportunity to learn about the many benefits, both environmental and financial, of installing photovoltaic (PV) solar panels.

Jeanette Dennis, an Agricultural Lawyer specialising in Farming and Estate Management for Ashton Graham Solicitors, said, “The agricultural community has for many years provided the country with some understated entrepreneurs. The idea of business diversity and embracing new technologies is part and parcel of how they approach the challenge of today’s markets. PV panels, or solar energy as it is more widely known, are bringing benefits in the form of tax relief, increased property values and generating clean energy, all by simply harnessing the power of the Sun. There have been 19K applications for PV, some of which are already now installed. With this level of investment indicates that owners are actively seeking ways to harness new green technology and to generate additional revenue from their land. It is becoming more financially viable as the returns increase.  Ashton Graham Solicitors and Savills both have clients in the rural property market, and we have joined forces with Ensors Chartered Accountants to offer some timely advice on the subject of renewable energy, and how best to maximise the commercial opportunities available.”

Savills spokesman Ben Makowiecke added, “Savills has a dedicated renewable energy team that specialise in planning and developing the assets and infrastructure of energy production and we have found an untapped market in the form of farm buildings that can be put to work for the benefit of the owners and the environment. When you think of the East of England you think of big skies and why not consider that another natural asset to be included in your business portfolio? We are seeing an increasing number of clients who want to explore the possibilities of renewable energy and this conference was a great chance to speak directly to them and answer some of the most frequently asked questions.”

150 farm owners and estate managers, all interested in the investment value of farm-based renewable energy solutions, and the recent review of the Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) attended the conference. The professional speakers stressed that the points covered applied to all renewable energy projects, not just PV. Held in a working grain store building on the prestigious Bartlow Estate delegates were able to see for themselves how the installation of PV panels on the roof of that grain store had enhanced the value of the outbuilding, and brought in cheaper energy to run the store in peak times. Tim Breitmeyer ex vice-chairman of the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire branch of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) was pleased to host the event, and answer questions from delegates regarding the practicalities of his experience of installing the panels.  Tim was joined by Tim Bridge of RenEnergy, who covered the technical aspects, for installation and choice of panels.

One of the key speakers of the day was Robert Leggett of Ensors Chartered Accountants who addressed the issues of tax breaks; capital allowances and other financial implications that land owners and managers need to be aware of. “As with the management of any business asset, the critical thing is to get the best advice before you undertake any project,“ said Robert. “All aspects of PV and other renewable energy installations need to be considered from property values to insurance coverage, and also how you structure the business.  As with many market innovations, the advice out there can often be confusing and contradictory, so it is our aim to guide clients through the tax and financial implications”.

Delegates then joined both Tim Breitmeyer and Tim Bridge of RenEnergy for the tour of the solar panels and the inverter unit. The feedback from delegates was that the day had been an informative introduction, not only to the concept of installing PV panels but also importantly to the expert advice available in the marketplace for renewable energy projects.

When asked if there would be another conference, Jeanette Dennis replied, “We knew the time was right for a conference on Renewable Energy, but even we were somewhat surprised by how many people wanted to attend, so I don’t think we’d rule it out. The delegates have told us they welcomed the opportunity to learn more on site, rather than in a sterile lecture format, as it brought everything to life, seeing the panels, and hearing about the 3 phase links, as well as the savings on power consumed. This was a friendly and helpful environment. The site visit combined with short concentrated tips from the all the professionals was a good mix. Hearing the real story on site was fabulous, and if we can do similar events in the future, we will. We already provide our clients with practical environmental advice on farms through our organised farm walks in Suffolk with FWAG”.

For further information contact the Renewable Energy Team.