News

December weather provides welcome ‘windfall’ for farmers with turbines

Record breaking winds are providing much needed additional revenues to hundreds of UK farmers who have installed power generating turbines on their land, according to a leading supplier of farm-scale wind turbines.

“High winds undoubtedly caused problems for many people in December but for farmers who have installed turbines the silver lining proved to be record incomes from electricity generation and big savings on power bills too,” said Steve Milner, managing director of Earthmill.

He added: “New data clearly highlights the benefits of diversification to farmers with land for small, farm- scale turbines.”

Earthmill’s data shows their fleet of over 100 turbines sited on UK farms generated a massive 2668 MW Hours of electricity in December, enough power to supply a town of 9,600 homes for 30 days or 800 homes for a whole year.

“As well as generating power worth over £600,000 in just one month, the turbines we manage also attracted discounts on electricity bills worth more than £200,000, equivalent to an average of £2,000 per farm in December alone,” commented Mr Milner.

“Whilst there will always be sceptics about the viability of wind power, the new technology used by our turbines is really helping to further increase their efficiency a fact supported by December’s output figures.  Across the UK, wind power supplied 10 per cent of the country’s supply electricity during December, a record month for renewable energy generation and our farmers played their part and boosted their revenues as a result.

“Of course, December was a very windy month and that swells the generation figures somewhat, but typical monthly electricity outputs are between 50 per cent and 75 per cent of these levels, making turbines highly productive on UK farms which are consistently windy.”

Demand for the turbines from the farming community has soared in recent months as power costs continue to climb, while deadlines reducing levels of Government incentives draw ever closer. The December power generation averaged £6,000 per farm turbine, but varied according to farm position and the type, size and capacity of turbine installed.  Many farmers have high electricity usage so the significant levels of power generated by wind make real savings to the operational costs of their business, with any extra being fed back into the grid providing additional income.

Mr Milner said poultry, pig and dairy farmers, who typically consume the most power, stand to make the most from the scheme.

“With rising electricity costs adding pressure to farm revenues the steady increase in demand for new turbines looks set to continue throughout 2014 and beyond,” he added.

Earthmill launched a £10m fund to provide finance for up to 100 new farm turbines in November 2013. Farmers and landowners can choose to buy and install turbines themselves, secure finance for the capital expenditure or rent their land to third parties who take on all of the costs and risk over a lease term.  This allows farmers without access to large sums of capital to enter the electricity generation market for the first time.  There are currently around 500 live applications by farmers to install individual or twin farm-scale turbines on their land.

News

Earthmill creates six new jobs as demand for turbines surges

Renewable energy company Earthmill is creating six more new jobs as part of a major rapid expansion programme to meet the growing demand for small to medium scale farm wind turbines from farmers and landowners across the UK.

The award winning Wetherby-based company that already employs 28 staff in Yorkshire and its other UK offices is now looking to recruit an additional account manager to strengthen its existing team along with five sales and technical support staff.

“We are growing at a rapid pace,” said Mr Milner, who launched the company in 2009, and last year geared up for expansion by securing more than £4m of city investment in September.

“Not only is this fantastic growth great for the company but it does mean we are creating new jobs in Yorkshire.  Hopefully, we will attract some high quality candidates who are looking to join a go-ahead company with an exciting year ahead of it.

“An increasing number of farmers are recognising that a turbine on their land can not only give them an annual income but the ability to reduce their own electricity costs.  A turbine will generate significant levels of power for a farm’s own use with any extra being fed into the National Grid.”

A small-scale wind turbine can reduce a farm’s electricity bill by as much as £40,000 a year for high energy users as well as provide a rental income for 20 years and demand for the turbines has been rising fast over the past two years.

“The past year has been pretty phenomenal and one in which Earthmill established itself as the UK’s leading supplier of agricultural wind turbines,” added Mr Milner.

For more detail on the roles available click here.

News

Earthmill shortlisted for European Business Award

Yorkshire renewables firm Earthmill has been shortlisted for a prestigious European business award and is hoping to beat off competition from 26 other European finalists to be crowned European Business of the Year.

Rapidly growing Earthmill, based in Wetherby, is one of just five British companies shortlisted by a panel of judges.

The firm is urging other Yorkshire businesses and the public to support the local firm with online votes to ensure it carries off the top accolade of National Champion for the UK in this year’s highly prestigious European Business Awards.

Winning the competition could pave the way for Earthmill, which provides and installs small to medium scale wind turbines on farms across the UK, to take the coveted title of overall European Champion which will be announced at a gala event in May.

“2013 has been amazing for us, we have grown at a phenomenal pace,” said Steve Milner, managing director of Earthmill, which he founded in his garage in Spofforth in 2009 and today employs around 30 people with an annual turnover of £13m.

“The public vote, which closes on January 2, means a great deal as it is our existing and potential customers and clients giving their approval to our success,” he added.

 “There are many farms that are under financial pressure, whether it be milk prices, feed costs or rising energy bills. By installing a small scale turbine on their farm they are able to improve their financial position, secure their future energy costs and reinvest in other areas of their business.”

To vote for Earthmill click here.

Earthmill, already named as one of the National Champions in the internally judged part of the competition which is sponsored by RSM International, has submitted a video of its company online (see link below), giving an in-depth story of their business and its successes.  It will now compete against all other 26 national champions for the public vote.  The company with the most votes will be named National Public Champion on January 14.

Adrian Tripp, chief executive officer of the European Business Awards said: “The public vote is a very important part of the awards as it gives these entrepreneurial companies another way of show-casing their achievements to a wider audience across Europe.  It was a huge success last year with over 35,000 votes cast.”

A final round of voting between January 14 and March 25 will result in the selection of one overall European ‘Public’ Champion’.  The winner will be announced at the Awards Gala event in May.

News

£10m fund launched to finance 100 farm wind turbines as power costs soar

A leading supplier of farm-scale turbines has announced a new fund that will finance up to 100 wind turbines on UK farms.

Demand for the turbines from the farming community has soared in recent months as power costs continue to climb, while deadlines reducing levels of Government incentives draw ever closer.

“We have secured over £10m of backing to fund the installation of new super-efficient turbines with no cost to the farmer or landowner,” explained Mark Woodward of Earthmill.  “The fund is open to any farmer who has land suitable for turbine installation and has the capability to connect to the National Grid.”

He added: “The launch of the fund eliminates any financial risk to the landowner.  Everyone still has the option to buy a turbine outright and we will install and connect it to the Grid, but this opens up green energy as a revenue stream to many farmers who previously chose not to invest in the technology.  The installation of a ‘small-scale’ wind turbine can reduce the farm’s electricity bill by as much as £40,000 per annum for high energy users as well as provide a rental income for 20 years.

“Previously some farmers didn’t want to borrow money for wind projects, or were unable to secure the loans required and as a result were missing out on significant revenues from power generation as well as discounted energy for consumption on their farms.  Rapidly increasing energy bills are a major issue for many farmers and this initiative will greatly help to protect them from this problem.”

Mr Woodward emphasised that many farmers can generate significant levels of power for their own use, with any extra being fed into the grid.  The fund will cover all the project costs from the early stages of securing planning, through to upgrading the farm’s electrical supply if required. Provided the farmer owns the land, or in exceptional cases has a long lease, the fund will undertake all ground and building works required to install the turbines that can typically generate enough power for 150 homes.

There are currently over 500 live applications by farmers to install individual or twin farm-scale turbines on UK farm land.  This latest boost for the industry will enable more farmers to enter the energy market, bolstering dwindling farm revenues and reducing sky-rocketing energy bills.

Poultry, pig and dairy farmers, who typically consume the most power, stand to make the most from the scheme. The revenues farmers can earn from the Government’s Feed in Tariff scheme fall in April 2014 as incentives are reduced.  Rising electricity costs and meagre farm revenues are, however, driving a steady increase in demand for new turbines that will continue throughout 2014.

News

UK’s first X-29 installed at Great Tredinnick, Cornwall

The first of a new generation of farm-scale wind turbines has been installed on a farm at Liskeard in Cornwall where it will generate the equivalent electricity used by almost 150 homes.

The first Endurance X29 to be installed on UK soil is also the first to be built in the UK in a brand new Midlands factory and is now generating clean energy on Matthew Rowe’s Great Tredinnick dairy farm. It will generate power for the dairy farm, up to 500,000 kWh per year, the equivalent of the power consumption of 150 homes.

The installation was carried out by farm turbine specialist Earthmill, one of the UK’s only specialist farm-scale wind turbine installers and suppliers. It is also one of a handful of authorised suppliers than can install the Endurance X29 in the UK. The 225kW unit was built by Endurance Wind Power at its new factory in Hartlebury near Kidderminster.

“The X29 is relatively modest in size, requiring only a 30m mast which makes it a great option for farms with high power requirements,” said Steve Milner, managing director of Earthmill. “The key to its improved performance is that it has a very efficient generator which operates at a low level resistance, allowing the turbine to start producing energy at a wind speed of just 4 metres per second, a really light breeze.”

He added: “The financial benefits of wind turbines for farms are becoming widely known, with farmers turning to them as an additional source of revenue in the wake of a dramatic fall in income, coupled with rising energy costs.”

Endurance’s investment in new manufacturing facilities is evidence of the boom in the farm wind market. The plant is creating up to 100 new green jobs and will eventually build 100 turbines a year.

New turbines need to be pre-registered with regulator Ofgem by 31st December and hundreds of farmers are now working to beat the end of year deadline and benefit from the maximum available revenues.

There are now over 500 planning applications being considered by councils across the UK and figures from the leading turbine suppliers show that over 200 farm scale turbines could be connected to the National Grid ahead of the looming energy regulator deadlines.

A report published last week by Renewable UK on the small and medium wind market shows that the industry doubled in size last year and the technology is injecting over £100m into the rural economy.

“The report shows the vital role that farm wind is playing in supporting the cash strapped rural economy, with 86 per cent of small-scale turbines installed in rural areas,” said Endurance UK managing director Dave Rankin.

News

Earthmill secures funding to finance free wind turbines for farmers

Wind turbine installer and maintainer Earthmill secures funding to supply 100 free wind turbines to UK farms.

The transaction led by Connection Capital will allow Earthmill to install 100 turbines across the windiest UK farms, free of charge. Earthmill is now appealing to farmers to get in touch to see if their land is windy enough to host one of the free machines.

Farmers can benefit from substantially reduced energy prices and an index linked ‘rental’ income for 20 years in exchange for hosting the turbine on their land. Recent energy price hikes have reportedly already been fueling demand with Earthmill reporting a 150% rise in inquiries from farmers and landowners who wish to protect themselves from the rising cost of energy.

Earthmill are agricultural wind turbine specialists and are the most experienced installers of turbines in the UK, with 125 installed so far. The equity investment will be used to speed up its expansion plans and partner with turbine manufacturer Endurance to allow as many farms as possible free access to renewable energy.

Steve Milner, founder and managing director of Earthmill, says that the investment has come at a great time for the business.
‘The agriculture turbine market is very active as landowners have started to see the very real cost savings and revenues that green energy production with a modern turbine can offer.’

Earlier in the year, Earthmill began its national expansion by acquiring the wind energy division of Bristol-based TGC Renewables.

Bernard Dale, partner at Connection Capital, says, ‘Earthmill is a great business led by an excellent management team, which has gained a strong foothold in a market very early.  We invest in strong management teams, with robust business models, and Earthmill has demonstrated its appetite to lead the sector with impressive progress to date.’

News

Endurance X-29 Installation Photos

Earthmill are proud to be covering the supply and installation of the world’s first X-29 225kW wind turbine. Our installation team have been doing a grand job in wet conditions and you can see some of the action in the photos below!

 

News

Earthmill prepares to install the UK’s first Endurance X-29 turbine

The UK’s first Endurance X-29 wind turbine is almost ready for installation.  Built in their new UK factory in the heart of The Midlands, the X-29 is Endurance’s new model and the big brother to the popular E-3120. At 225kW, the X-29 has almost five times the capacity of the E-3120 yet remains modest in size, requiring only a 30m mast which makes it a great option for farms and businesses with high power requirements.

The turbine will be installed on Great Tredinnick Dairy Farm in Cornwall.  The foundations have already been laid by the Earthmill engineering team and await the arrival of the tower and nacelle from the factory.  The turbine is expected to be installed, commissioned and generating clean energy for the farm by the end of October.

News

Earthmill to represent the UK in Europe’s most competitive business awards competition

News

Earthmill announces strategic merger with TGC Renewables

Agricultural wind turbine specialists, Earthmill Limited, have today announced the company’s merger with the wind energy division of Bristol-based TGC Renewables.

The merged business, which will be known as Earthmill (The Green Company), sees the creation of the largest distributor and installer of Endurance wind turbines globally and the UK’s biggest 50-225kw wind turbine installer with over 100 machines already installed.  The merger is effective immediately.

With a sales and service area covering Yorkshire, Bristol, Wales and Scotland, as well as a presence in Devon and Cornwall, Earthmill will provide a complete portfolio of installation and maintenance services to customers based throughout the UK.  The new company will also continue to act on behalf of its farming customers as an independent project developer within the medium-scale wind power industry.

Under the terms of the agreement, Earthmill will continue to operate dedicated regional teams to provide valuable and independent long-term advice and understanding of the opportunities available to local farmers and landowners from the renewable energy sector.

“Guiding farmers and landowners through the key stages of planning and financing of wind power development is an increasingly important service for would-be investors who are increasingly looking for impartial advice and support when considering either land rental opportunities or direct wind turbine investment,” explained Steve Milner, Managing Director of Earthmill.

“Today’s announcement is an important step, not only for the two companies involved in the merger, but also for the medium scale wind industry within the UK,” Mr Milner adds.  “Earthmill is well known as the North’s leading agricultural wind turbine specialist, and our amalgamation with the wind energy division of TGC Renewables cements our position as the number one choice for farm-scale wind turbines across the whole of the UK.  One of our key strengths and goals is to provide exceptional customer service, and this merger will enable us to offer an unparalleled level of service to even the most remote parts of the country.”

Glenn Johnson, CEO of Endurance Wind Power, added: “We warmly welcome today’s announcement as we believe a larger, and therefore stronger distributor will be able to provide our customers with even greater levels of service and quality.  This in turn will match our own world-leading engineering standards.  We look forward to working with all our UK partners, including Earthmill, as we press ahead with our plans to meet the UK’s rapidly rising demand for 50kW and 225kW farm-scale wind turbines.”

Speaking on behalf of TGC Renewables, Ben Cosh, Managing Director commented: “Founded in 2006, TGC Renewables is one of the most experienced energy developers in the UK, with specific expertise in retained project planning, finance and development.  Our listing in the 2012 Sunday Times’ Fast Track awards reflects the company’s growth and is testament to our success within the industry.

“However, with over 350 megawatts of wind and solar energy initiatives currently in development, and with a pipeline of projects that continues to grow, it is critical that we dedicate sufficient management focus to each of these very different energy markets.  In this respect, Earthmill and the wind energy division of TGC Renewables are perfectly matched, with the combined entity well positioned to deliver the highest possible level of service to our customers.”

About Earthmill Ltd:

• Founded in 2009 Earthmill have rapidly become the largest supplier of medium sized wind turbines to farms.  Offering a full range of services from advice on turbine selection, siting, planning, installation and maintenance, Earthmill provide farmers and land owners with a complete solution backed up by exceptional customer service.
• Earthmill provide clients the option to purchase a turbine outright or offer a land lease option which provides an index linked income for 20 years together with reduced price electricity without taking on any of the risks of the project. For more information, visit www.earthmill.co.uk

About TGC Renewables:

• Founded in 2006, TGC Renewables is an independent, UK-based renewable energy project developer, focused on the wind and solar markets.
• Working directly with landowners and investors alike, the business implements renewable energy solutions that make both financial and environmental sense.
• In 2008 TGC Renewables was the first business to be accredited under the UK Department of Trade & Industry’s wind turbine MCS Scheme.  In 2011, the business was shortlisted for Wind Energy Provider of the Year at the Renewable Energy Infrastructure Awards.
• In 2012, TGC Renewables connected over 25MW of wind and large-scale solar energy initiatives to the grid and was ranked number 12 in The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 growth companies.
• In 2013, TGC Renewables already has over 350MW’s of wind and solar power in development.  For more information, visit www.tgcrenewables.co.uk

Issued by:

Paul Jennings, Client Director, ABC Limited.

T: 01694 731914
M: 07515 260331
E: paul@abccomms.co.uk

This news release can be downloaded directly from the ABC Press Centre at www.abccomms.co.uk