The ‘Energy in Agriculture 2017’ event, which will take place on Tuesday, 22 August at Gurteen College, Co. Tipperary, was launched today by Denis Naughten TD, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
‘Energy in Agriculture 2017’ is being organized jointly by Teagasc, Tipperary Co Council, IFA, Tipperary Energy Agency and Gurteen College and aims to provide practical information for farmers and the rural sector about the various renewable energy and energy efficiency options available for farm businesses.
Today’s launch took place on the farm of Michael Coyne, Knockcroghery, Co. Roscommon, where some of the options open to farmers to use energy more efficiently were highlighted.
Speaking at the launch of Energy in Agriculture 2017, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten TD said: “I recognize the efforts being made by industry to reduce emissions. By working in partnership to meet the Greenhouse gas challenge, we can map our own future, increase efficiency and profitability, and decrease our carbon intensity in a sustainable way. Options for renewable heating include biomass and biogas from waste streams and from energy crops, solar thermal and geothermal energy. The planned Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme will provide a key policy support measure for this development.”
Energy specialist with Teagasc, Barry Caslin, said: “We need to improve our energy security by reducing our dependence on imported fossil fuels. In the longer term, we need to tackle global warming by reducing the level of greenhouse gas emissions in the earth’s atmosphere. Energy in Agriculture will improve the knowledge base for farmers on how farmers can improve efficiencies and deploy renewables to improve the sustainability of Irish agriculture”.
Energy in Agriculture will feature a series of seminars throughout the day highlighting local case studies of the main renewable energy technologies. Mike Pearson Principal of Gurteen Agricultural College will share his experiences of installing a 50kW wind turbine and 300kW biomass boilers. There are demonstrations about biogas, solar PV, wood mobilization and wind.
Other seminars will cover biomass production and utilization, and energy efficiency in various farming enterprises. The second series of seminars will deal with many of the issues facing those considering installing a green energy source. They will cover issues such as the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), grid connection, planning, legal, financing projects and sustainability of agriculture. Energy production can be compatible with food production, or indeed with other uses of land that are beneficial to society.
One of the new features this year will be the provision of one-to-one clinics where farmers can book a slot to get free advice on their energy project.
In addition, there will be over 50 trade stands in the Trade Exhibition area and the opportunity to tour the biomass boiler installation and wind turbine at Gurteen College.
On 22 August, the event will run from 10.00am until 5:00pm. It will commence with an opening statement from Denis Naughten TD, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, followed by a panel discussion including Minister Naughten and moderated by Damien O’Reilly (RTE).
For further details visit www.energyinagriculture.ie
