Heathfield, East Sussex, 2011

 

When you run an agricultural business, spending around £40 a day on energy, the cost of which rises every year, then you will inevitably look to take all the electricity savings you can get. This is where Agrifactors was when they made the choice to install a 50kW Solar PV system on their base at Streetfield Farm in Sussex. It’s effectively the same as purchasing a large proportion of their future electricity generation upfront for a fixed price which, given the propensity for energy suppliers to raise their prices, is certainly a wise idea.

 

While the Feed-in Tariff is a rosy prospect, the energy-saving benefits of solar have become clearer after installation, with Agrifactors now saving over 50% on their bills; something that no business would reject.

 

Another huge benefit for Agrifactors is the marketing boost that the system has given them. “Customers really like the fact that we are carbon-neutral,” explains Chris Davis, Director at Agrifactors, “in fact more so, as we produce more than we use meaning we even alleviate the carbon emissions of others.”

 

For so many large contractors out there, looking to show how they are greening their supply chains, carbon-positive Agrifactors are a dream come true. “When we fill contractors’ questionnaire forms out relating to energy use we get phone calls asking what our figures mean. Then they send their environmental people over and we send them away positively glowing.”