NFU Energy: Supporting the Farming Community Toward a More Sustainable, Cost-Effective Future

In a time when energy costs are rising, regulations are tightening, and pressures to decarbonise are increasing, UK farmers need more than general advice — they need tailored, practical support. 

That’s where NFU Energy steps in.

What is NFU Energy?

NFU Energy is an energy consultancy service under the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) that’s specifically geared towards agriculture and horticulture. 

It does several things:

Helps farmers buy and sell energy — securing competitive energy contracts, handling the paperwork, managing supplier issues. 

Offers support to generate their own energy — through renewables like solar PV, wind, anaerobic digestion, etc., and helping with subsidies and feasibility. 

Helps with using energy more efficiently — audits, feasibility studies, advice on saving methods. 

Helps farmers stay compliant with regulations and make the most of schemes/discounts like the Climate Change Levy (CCL), RHI, etc. 

Key Ways It Helps Farmers

Here are some of the concrete benefits that NFU Energy brings to farms and growers:

Cost savings

NFU Energy helps members secure better energy deals, often with less effort on the farmer’s part. This includes negotiating contracts and acting as part of buying groups. 

For many farms, energy is a significant fixed cost. Even marginal savings on electricity, gas or fuel can make a real difference to profitability.

Access to renewable generation and diversification

Farmers are increasingly looking to generate their own energy — solar panels, wind turbines, battery storage — both to reduce their bills and potentially earn income from selling back to the grid. NFU Energy helps assess feasibility, find installers, understand the returns. 

Also, by partnering with accredited renewable installers (e.g. YLEM Energy, Infinite Renewables) NFU Energy reduces some of the risk and complexity. 

Regulatory compliance and financial incentives

Staying on top of energy regulation is tricky. For certain sectors (pig, poultry, protected horticulture), there are specific schemes like CCL (Climate Change Levy) discounts, Climate Change Agreements, etc. NFU Energy helps members manage their compliance, returns, data reporting. 

Practical help with efficiency

On-site energy audits, renewables feasibility studies, recommendations such as switching to LED lighting, variable speed drives for pumps/fans, electric vehicle alternatives — these are real, tangible actions that farms can take. 

Decarbonisation & long-term resilience

With net zero goals looming, farmers are under pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. NFU Energy works with local authorities & schemes (for example the North Yorkshire fully-funded decarbonisation initiative) to give farmers the tools to reduce emissions and become more sustainable. 

Reducing administrative burden

Much of the complexity of energy contracts, regulatory reporting, subsidy applications, etc., is offloaded from farmers to NFU Energy. That frees up time and reduces risk of costly mistakes. 

Challenges & Considerations

While NFU Energy offers a lot, it's not a magic wand. Here are some challenges/limitations:

Upfront costs: Even when feasibility and subsidy help is available, installing renewable technologies or making major efficiency upgrades can require significant capital.

Complexity & bureaucracy: Regulations, schemes, compliance can still be confusing, and not all farms have the capacity to act quickly.

Suitability: Not all farms will have the right geography, scale or infrastructure for certain technologies (solar, wind, battery storage).

Long payoff periods: Some investments only pay off after many years; farmers under financial pressure may struggle to wait.

Why It Matters Now

A few reasons NFU Energy is especially relevant in the current climate:

Energy prices remain volatile. Farmers face rising costs for electricity, gas, fuel, and are exposed to global energy markets.

Environmental regulations are tightening, plus there is increasing pressure (from policy, from consumers) to reduce carbon emissions.

Government grants and “green” schemes are more available now, but navigating them effectively is tricky; having specialist support gives an advantage.

Diversification is increasingly important for farm income resilience. Generating energy or selling back to the grid can provide an alternative revenue stream.

Success Stories & Examples

Here are a few examples of what NFU Energy has already done:

A pilot scheme in the North of England where 16 farms received free energy audits and renewable feasibility assessments. The recommendations included standard measures (LED lighting, variable speed drives) and options for renewables. 

The North Yorkshire decarbonisation initiative: 30 farms will be chosen to receive fully funded assessments (energy audits, renewables feasibility, soil carbon testing etc.) to help them reduce greenhouse gas emissions while improving efficiency. 

What Could Be Improved / What to Watch For

To maximise the benefit of NFU Energy, here are some areas that might be looked at:

Ensuring that assistance reaches smaller farms, which may have less capacity or fewer resources.

Continuing to reduce paperwork, simplify applications, speed up decision-making for grants/subsidies.

More accessible financing options (loans, grants) so that farms don’t need to front large sums.

More regionally tailored advice, since what works (climate, grid access, planning permission etc.) can vary a lot.

Clear guidance and transparency around the payback times, risks, maintenance for renewable installations etc.

In Conclusion

NFU Energy represents a powerful resource for UK farmers and growers: helping reduce energy costs, improve efficiency, comply with regulations, and move toward more sustainable, resilient farming. Especially in times of rising costs and climate concern, having such specialist support is vital.

For those working in agriculture, keeping an eye on what NFU Energy offers — audits, renewable feasibility, compliance help — is more than just “nice to have”. It can make a material difference to the bottom line, to farm sustainability, and to future proofing operations.

To learn more visit https://nfuenergy.co.uk

Opus Energy signs wind power agreement with Danish energy company Nordjysk Elhandel

Opus Energy, the Northampton and Oxford-based energy supplier, has entered cooperation with Danish energy company, Nordjysk Elhandel (NEAS), specialising in renewables for the balancing and trading of wind power production from wind turbine generators in the UK. 

"Wind power generation is expanding rapidly in the UK and we at Opus Energy want to secure the best possible set-up in production management for wind power generators. The cooperation with NEAS gives us access to state-of-the-art services in scheduling and balancing of wind power, and competencies in trading of wind power. 

"This will provide UK wind power generators with the best service and maximum value for their production and associated certificates. We believe this cooperation will give us a competitive edge to enable us to expand our market for wind power generation”, explains Charlie Crossley Cooke, Managing Director, of Opus Energy.

Today there's approximately 5,970 MW installed capacity of wind power in the UK. However, this number is expected to rise dramatically to over 10,000 MW in 2015 and well over 20,000 MW in 2020, based on the figures for wind turbines presently under construction, approved and planned.

“At NEAS we have invested many resources in building up the strongest possible set-up in production management and trading of wind power. For example, we have our own meteorologists and analysts forecasting production volumes, and we have developed specialized IT systems for balancing and scheduling of wind power generation. Also, we have years of experience in trading of wind power in Denmark, Sweden and Germany. The cooperation with Opus Energy provides us with a highly competent partner to market our services for wind power generators in the UK”, says Bo Lynge Rydahl, CEO at NEAS.

Opus Energy and NEAS expect to sign the first wind power production purchase agreements (PPAs) in the UK within the first quarter of 2012. They will market their services to wind power generators on the basis of competitive and dynamic pricing structures and outstanding balance responsible party services.

FACTFILE
Opus Energy is the UK’s leading business energy supplier. With offices in Northampton and Oxford, Opus Energy employs 360 people.

Opus Energy supplies over 110,000 UK business sites across all sectors. Corporate customers include: Stagecoach, Halfords, Pizza Hut and Virgin Media.

Opus Energy's management team has a 50 per cent stake in the business, while International Power Plc (LSE:IPR.L) holds 30 per cent and Telecom Plus Plc (LSE: TEP.L) has 20 per cent.

For further information about Opus Energy, please see www.opusenergy.com.

NEAS is the market leader in trading and balancing of wind turbine operation, based on market terms, in Denmark. Representing more than 1, 200 MW installed capacity under management.

Coke Adds Firefly Solar Power for Its Event Recycling Programme

Firefly Solar, a European leader in the design and manufacturer of off-grid, portable and permanent solar-powered generators, has won a contract from Coca-Cola Enterprises to supply 6 of its Cygnus generators to power the company’s Event Recycling programme at outdoor events in Great Britain and France.

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) piloted its Event Recycling programme during 2010 with the objective to motivate festival goers to make recycling a daily habit. The Programme recovered over 18 tonnes of recyclate (PET and cans) and reached an audience in excess of half a million people attending eight festivals during the summer of 2010.

The equipment being supplied by Firefly Solar consists of two standalone solar power systems comprised of three of the company’s 5kW Cygnus solar generators, configured to provide a three-phase 5kW electrical supply. One system each will be supplied to the British and French teams to provide electrical power for waste compaction equipment and for portable office space at this year’s events.

Patrick McGuirk, Recycling Director for Coca-Cola Enterprises said, “By using Firefly Solar generators to provide a green energy supply to power our Event Recycling Programme we can ensure that we reduce the carbon footprint of our activation this summer. Coca-Cola Enterprises is committed to transforming recycling and reducing the absolute carbon footprint of our business. Firefly’s portable solar generators are an important capital investment to ensure the footprint of our Event Recycling activities are minimised.”

Andy Mead, managing director at Firefly Solar said, “At Firefly we are delighted by the association with Coca-Cola Enterprises and pleased to have won this contract. It’s been estimated that 20,000 tonnes of carbon are created annually through the use of standby diesel generators at UK music events. We applaud Coca-Cola Enterprises for selecting renewable energy supplied by our Cygnus solar power generators in its campaign to clean up festivals and to promote recycling throughout Great Britain and France.”

Cygnus is a compact and high quality, forklift-able solar generator. With a footprint of less than 1 square meter (excluding solar array), Cygnus generator’s built in battery bank can be charged using a range of renewable sources including solar, wind and pedal power - it can even be charged using the excess capacity of biodiesel or hydrogen generators or from a green mains supply.

Cygnus solar generators feature plug and play connections for easy installation and operation by untrained personnel. The generators meet all European standards for safety and multiple systems can be linked together to provide higher single phase current or a 3 phase supply. Cygnus' integrated intelligent control panel is easily navigated allowing the user to instantly ascertain the percentage of stored energy available from the system. The controller also gives the user a wide range of configuration options to optimise the system for its environment anywhere in the world.

Firefly Solar generators have been used successfully at Glastonbury, Love Box and the Isle of Wight music festivals to provide solar powered stages for audiences of up to 5000. Firefly Solar equipment creates absolutely zero emissions in operation; are truly silent running; increase safety and reduce risk by the elimination of flammable liquids and fuels and provide a pure sine wave, 230V current to power sensitive electronic equipment. Firefly Solar generators are fully compatible with wind and solar inputs.

For more details please contact Firefly Solar on 01273 617006 or visit www.fireflysolar.co.uk.