COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
OFFICIAL REPORT
(Hansard)
Inquiry into Renewable Energy and Alternative Land Use
24 April 2008
Members present for all or part of the proceedings:
Dr William McCrea (Chairperson)
Mr P J Bradley
Mr Allan Bresland
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr Willie Clarke
Mr William Irwin
Mr George Savage
Witnesses:
Mr Martin McKendry )
Ms Joyce Rutherford ) Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Dr John Speers )
The Chairperson:
I welcome the next set of witnesses, who are from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. I thank you for joining us this morning.
The Department’s ‘Renewable Energy Action Plan’ was launched on 29 January 2007. The Committee is interested in exploring what has happened since then. In making your presentation, I ask you to bear in mind the terms of reference of our inquiry into renewable energy and alternative land use.
Thank you for the response that you forwarded to the Committee. Please make your presentation, and we will have a question-and-answer session afterwards.
Dr John Speers (The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development):
I thank the Committee for its invitation to attend the inquiry. My colleagues are Joyce Rutherford, who is head of the Department’s recently created renewable energy policy unit, and Martin McKendry, who is responsible for the renewable programme within CAFRE. We aim to address the inquiry’s aims and terms of reference in our opening statement.
DARD acknowledges that the development of renewable energy may open up opportunities to the agricultural community from the production and utilisation perspectives. Specifically, farmers could contribute to the production of energy in Northern Ireland, and the rural community could benefit from localised energy distribution.
DARD policy in that area sits within the sustainable-development goal of its strategic plan, the key objective being to encourage the increased exploitation of renewable energy opportunities. We are driving various actions to progress that objective. We are delivering the action plan, which was developed in consultation with stakeholders. We support a dedicated research and technology programme, which will provide an important evidence base for future policy in that area. We are exploiting opportunities to support renewable energy development through the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme, and we are collaborating with the lead Department on energy issues, DETI, and others to ensure that opportunities for the agriculture sector are included in any wider public policies under consideration in that area.
We are conscious that the term “renewable energy” covers many areas. I will take a few minutes to focus on the Department’s approach to those areas.
Wind-generated energy is the most prevalent form of renewable energy available in Northern Ireland. Existing technology, in the form of wind turbines, offers a wide range of power ratings, from a few watts to several megawatts. We recognise that farmers can benefit from wind energy generation in a number of ways; specifically, by engaging with energy providers to assist the establishment of large-scale energy generation in the countryside. We can give those providers access to the land, for which the farmer receives an additional revenue stream. From that, there are a decreasing range of scales, down to wind-generated energy for single households or single businesses. To assist with the overall assessment of the current economic potential and the agrienvironmental impact, the Department has erected demonstration wind turbines at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) campuses at Loughry and Greenmount.
I will now turn to biomass production. Short-rotation coppice (SRC) willow is grown specifically as an energy crop in Northern Ireland, mainly to generate heat. The product, in the form of willow chips, is used primarily as a fuel to generate heat in biomass boilers. Studies indicate that the economics of growing SRC willow as a fuel-only crop are marginal. We are aware that, bearing in mind recent energy prices, the economics of SRC willow are looking more attractive for heat production. We are also aware that the additional use of SRC willow for biofiltration has the potential to add value to the product, and, in turn will have a beneficial impact on the economic sustainability of the technology.
The constraints around the production of SRC willow in Northern Ireland are focused mainly on the availability of a local end-user, the cost of transport, and the distances travelled, bearing in mind the bulk and low value of willow chips. DARD provides some grant support, which is targeted at the establishment of wood-based SRC crop businesses and farm businesses through the SRC programme and the regional development programme. Linked to that support, under the programme to build sustainable prosperity, the energy from biomass infrastructure development scheme has allocated some £640,000 to 16 projects for the harvesting, drying and storage of SRC willow. CAFRE will continue to provide information by way of technology and knowledge transfer in this area, to assist landowners and farmers in making informed and rational choices about how to manage SRC businesses. DARD-funded work also continues at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) on the commercial development of SRC willow.
The Department is working with AFBI to assess the economic potential and agrienvironmental impact of growing miscanthus, which is also a biomass crop, and a small number of other grasses, which might have the potential to contribute as energy-producing feed stock.
Biomass from forestry and sawmill residues are also being examined. Our estimates indicate that publicly-owned forests in Northern Ireland have the potential to generate around 42,000 tons of forest residues a year. For several reasons, however, it is not possible to collect all of that. We recognise that scope exists to promote forestry residues as a renewable energy source. DARD’s Forest Service is working with AFBI and scientists to investigate the commercial viability and economic potential of the recovery and utilisation of forest brash for biomass heating systems. Sawmill residues also provide some potential as a renewable energy source. Indeed, there have been some changes in the market forces around wood-fuel businesses. I have seen sawmill residues being made available for wood-fuel services.
There is potential, under the rural development programme’s agricultural and forestry processing and marketing grants scheme, to provide support to forestry-related micro-enterprises for capital expenditure on buildings and new equipment aimed at improving the application of technology in the forestry sector. That support must be made available for renewable energy technologies.
Another subject is energy crops for liquid-biofuel production. Bearing in mind that Northern Ireland has one million hectares of land — two thirds of which is less favoured area (LFA) land and only 3% to 5% of which is used for cereal production — oilseed rape is potentially a primary crop for biodiesel production. There are no particular climatic constraints to growing oilseed rape in Northern Ireland, and yields close to those achieved in GB have been recorded. Although there is potential for increased oilseed rape production in Northern Ireland, there are some significant restraints. The crop has a limited place in arable rotation, and, therefore, large-scale biodiesel production in Northern Ireland is unlikely.
Another liquid biofuel is the fossil-fuel, petrol substitution bioethanol, which is produced from wheat or sugar beet. In Northern Ireland, wheat is grown in a relatively small area — almost 9,000 hectares, from the June 2007 census — and no sugar beet is grown at all here.
Another relevant fact is that Northern Ireland is a grain-deficient region and must import large quantities of grain as feedstuffs for the livestock sector. Therefore, large-scale bioethanol manufacturing in the region is unlikely.
I shall now look at conversion technologies. The Department is examining the potential roles that anaerobic digestion and heat generation might play. The anaerobic digestion of organic waste is a proven, well-tried and tested technology that can be successfully used to produce biogas for combined heat and power. Anaerobic-digestion plant can be designed as small on-farm units to deal with slurry, or as larger units to deal with slurry from several farms. Such plant can also be used for co-digestion with other organic waste.
Recent developments using supplements and green crops — such as maize grass or whole-crop silage — as a feedstock in anaerobic-digestion plant can significantly improve the efficiency of biogas production.
The total housed, livestock-manure resource here is just less than 10 million tonnes, and, in theory, if all that were used for anaerobic digestion, it could fuel approximately 90 one-thousand-ton-a-year anaerobic-digestion plants with an energy output of 73 MW of electricity and 60MW of heat. However, that potential is unlikely to be fully realised. Obviously, there are alternative uses for manure as a nutrient source — such as on the land — and the location of farms in relation to supplying the grid is a further constraint.
In that context, we are exploring the potential for an energy-from-agrifood-waste challenge fund, which could be match-funded through the European Union’s structural fund, and we are proactively progressing the legal basis on which the Department might introduce such a scheme and any state-aid issues that might be relevant to it. We hope to shortly be in a better position to advise the Committee in more detail about that scheme.
Biomass heating systems and potential air-source and ground-source heating pumps are being trialled at CAFRE and AFBI, and Martin McKendry will talk about the technology associated with that.
Commenting specifically on the terms of reference, concerning the policy framework for the development of renewable energy in Northern Ireland; there are a range of EU-level policy initiatives that are driving the renewable-energy agenda.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment holds the energy portfolio for Northern Ireland and takes the lead on all energy-related matters. Within that, DARD’s renewable energy action plan has been a catalyst in providing a focus for the Department’s efforts to identify the activities that support the development of renewable energy in the agrifood sector. The majority of those actions has been implemented, but some are still works in progress.
One of the actions to progress the implementation of activities in the renewable energy action plan, and to continue with DARD’s policy development of renewable energy in the agrifood sector, was to establish a unit within the central policy group, which Ms Rutherford heads up. The team was established some six months ago and plays a central role in developing the Department’s future renewable energy policy.
Mr McKendry will now say a few words about some current and future renewable energy technologies.
Mr Martin McKendry (The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development):
It is fair to say that DARD recognises the growing interest in renewables in the agricultural and rural communities. That interest stems from increasing energy costs, increased awareness of climate change and EU targets. Those communities recognise that they have the resources, that is, the land, to provide solutions to some of those problems.
The renewable energy technologies that are available include wind, solar, photovoltaics, tidal, wave, and ground- and air-source heat pumps. Some of those technologies will have an impact on the agricultural and rural community, but some will not. However, we wish to concentrate on bioenergy, which includes biogas, biomass and biofuel.
There are three opportunities for farm businesses. Before we even address the issue of renewables, we must first address the main issue, which is to reduce energy consumption. There are also opportunities for farm businesses to displace fossil fuel energy in favour of producing their own heat, electricity or even biodiesel.
The second option is for farm businesses to produce feedstock from the land or from waste, eg, slurry, and sell or market that commodity.
The third option is to work together to market energy and the business opportunities that arise from that — the idea being to move up the supply chain.
The environment and renewable energy fund has concentrated on demonstrating existing technologies for farm businesses through AFBI, from a research point of view, and through CAFRE, from a knowledge and technology transfer point of view. We have been involved in a range of technologies, including biomass and wind turbines. There is also a sustainable energy unit, which uses combined renewable technologies such as biomass and solar. At Loughry campus, an air-source heat pump has been installed and land has been allocated so that the potential for non-food crops can be investigated. Non-food crops include biomass and other alternative market opportunities.
Our means of disseminating that information to the industry largely came about through a renewable energy open day in August 2007, which we ran in conjunction with the industry and with stakeholder partners. Information was also provided through our training in knowledge and technology transfer.
DARD has previous experience from the food side and from the production side of pulling farmers together to meet market requirements. Those transferable skills can also be used for the renewable side in the future.
Dr Speers:
One of the Committee’s terms of reference relates to the range of support that is available for renewables initiatives, and Joyce Rutherford will talk about that.
Ms Joyce Rutherford (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development):
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to present evidence to the Committee.
John and Martin’s presentations touched on some of the support that is available, but I will summarise it for the Committee. EU aid is available for the establishment of energy crops through a very modest scheme that was set up in 2004 to incentivise the growing of feed stock for bioenergy purposes across the EU.
In Northern Ireland, the main crop grown under that scheme is SRC willow, although a very small amount of oilseed rape is grown as well. It is likely that, because the ceiling has been reached on available funding across the EU, and because feed stock has been established, that modest scheme will finish after the next common agricultural policy health check. The Department is not aware of the details of that, but it is a matter of watching this space.
Support is available for renewable energy technologies under axis 1 and/or axis 3 of the Northern Ireland rural development programme 2007-13. In particular, under axis 1, agriculture and forestry processing and marketing grants may be able to support renewable-energy technologies. Under axis 3, the farm diversification scheme and the business creation and development programme will support renewable energy projects.
As John already highlighted, we are exploring the potential of a fund for the production of energy from agrifood waste, and we hope to be able to come to the Committee later this year with the outcome of that exploration.
With regard to the European renewable energy fund, the Committee will be aware that DARD has secured a total fund of £4·2 million. That fund is now closed. Basically, our aim was to secure some funding for research and demonstration purposes in order to prove the concept of some of the technologies that are available and to ensure that they are suitable for the Northern Ireland agenda and environment.
To carry on from that, although the EREF is closed, we were able to secure some funding through the Chancellor’s innovation fund to continue with our programme of technology transfer at CAFRE and the renewables research programme at AFBI. Therefore, although the EREF is closed, work is continuing through other funding streams to ensure that renewables are kept firmly on the agenda.
I shall now pass the Committee back to John. Thank you.
Dr Speers:
To conclude, in looking at the terms of reference in relation to the potential role of farm and rural businesses and the ways in which DARD could implement a strategy for renewable energy, we recognise that we now have an action plan. As indicated in that action plan, it will be subject to review this year. That review will set out the strategic direction over the next three years, taking account the work of this Committee and the work of DETI and others as well as the wider energy policy that is developing in Northern Ireland.
The Chairperson:
Thank you very much John, Joyce and Martin, for your presentation.
The Committee has heard evidence from the Ulster Farmers’ Union, and there will be several contributors to its inquiry. People from different Departments will be listening to different parts of the evidence. I and other members of the Committee appreciate all participants’ evidence, but I would be interested to receive representations that comment on, or even challenge, some of the presentations being given, so that the Committee can get an overall view. Each participant gives a presentation, and the Committee interviews him or her on the basis of it.
However, it is difficult to have interaction between different participants because the discussion will be wide-ranging. Therefore, I would like to have comments, and even challenges, if that is necessary. If that it not necessary, then, to be honest, we are not looking for a challenge for its own sake.
To return to the heart of the matter; namely, DARD’s renewable energy action plan, which has been operating for 15 months; please outline the plan’s achievements during that time?
Dr Speers:
I shall ask Joyce to provide some of the detail. However, to preface some of her comments, we recognise that this was a new area of work for DARD. We have been investing in increasing our knowledge of the technology and our expertise in this area and in working with various stakeholders and centres to enhance our knowledge.
A key development has been to establish the policy unit in DARD to bring together, in a co-ordinated way, efforts across the Department. To that end, part of the unit’s remit is to establish a group of interested parties across the Department. That includes the research at AFBI, the technology work at CAFRE, the support available through our rural development colleagues, and the various interests on the forestry side. Over the past six months the Department has considerably strengthened its focus on renewable energy. The Department is also very aware of the requirement to undertake a substantial review of its action plan.
Ms Rutherford:
The plan has 35 recommendations for action, of which 27 are under way or have been completed. Some, such as the review of the action plan, will be tackled shortly. Moreover, many of the actions were addressed under the EREF work, such as the technology transfer programme and the installation of demonstration technologies. Work is definitely under way. We have just completed our baseline, and we hope to give that to an industry-led stakeholder group soon, which will re-evaluate the action plan and suggest a longer-term strategy for the next three to five years.
The Chairperson:
On which of the 35 recommendations has progress been made, and where is the evidence? We have to see, and be able to measure, what had been achieved. A review of the action plan was promised for this month. Is that review continuing? Your comments gave the impression that the review is about to commence.
Ms Rutherford:
You have asked me a couple of questions, so please let me answer them. Take, for example, recommendation 1 in the action plan, which seeks to further increase the awareness of renewable energy technologies among the wider rural community. One activity that has already taken place was the CAFRE open day. Members may have had the opportunity to attend. There were 500 attendees. The Department has actively raised awareness of renewable-energy technologies among 500 people.
The Chairperson:
It is not a one-day wonder, Joyce.
Ms Rutherford:
I understand that. However, it represents an incremental step change for the agricultural community.
The Chairperson:
There are tens of thousands of farmers. I applaud the occasion that you mentioned. I found it helpful and informative. How can that information reach other farmers?
Ms Rutherford:
Martin can provide further details on that.
Mr McKendry:
With regard to the 15-month action plan, the Department has initiated seven technology-transfer projects in CAFRE. We have delivered training, including the open day, to just over 1,500 farmers. That training has been organised specifically by CAFRE. Therefore, in addition to presentations that the Department has been asked to give at other meetings, it has specifically provided training to 1,500 farmers.
Those projects have delivered. Fifteen per cent of CAFRE’s heat and 1% of its electricity are now derived from renewable sources. With regard to your question on how awareness is being generated among farmers on the ground, the Department is in the process of spreading it further through training programmes. Last month, 103 dairy farmers participated at five events throughout Northern Ireland on practical ways to reduce their energy consumption. Another 80 attended the first of four SRC workshops. That work brings renewable energy into the training sphere and away from the awareness phase. During the next couple of years, the Department’s work will be to provide much more training to individuals and small groups.
Ms Rutherford:
Papers are being prepared concerning the formulation of the stakeholder forum that will be set up to review the plan. We hope to make progress on that structure quickly, within the next eight weeks. The time frame has been scoped. We hope that the review will be complete around the end of the year. There is a timing issue because several studies are being carried out. The Department is keen to find out the outcome of this inquiry as well so that all of those considerations can be taken by the stakeholder group that will review the action plan.
The Chairperson:
It would be difficult to respond to all 35 recommendations. Therefore, please send the Committee the Department’s position and the progress that has been made on each of them. The Committee wants to know about those that the Department cannot or is unable to progress. We do not want to see a flowery picture if there are weeds.
Dr Speers:
I was going to offer to provide a progress report on the action plan. As you have indicated, the action plan was drawn up some time ago when the renewable-energy sector was in its infancy. Many of the recommendations may have been speculative in nature and have not been progressed for various reasons, including economic ones. The Department will certainly provide a detailed progress report on the action plan.
Mr W Clarke:
What steps has the Department taken to get other Government Departments to buy into the plan?
Ms Rutherford:
The Department has representation, through DETI, on a group in which Departments work together on a study to assess the potential market opportunities for renewable energy in Northern Ireland. Several Departments feed into that study. Therefore, there is a degree of cross-departmental co-ordination on the matter.
Mr W Clarke:
There is co-operation but no action. Officials say that renewable energy has nothing to do with their Department but rather that it is the responsibility of someone else’s — it is like a game of tennis with the issue bouncing back and forth. Instead, officials should take the initiative by forming an action plan and demanding buy-in from all Departments.
If the farming community is being asked to grow a raw product, the market for that product must be provided. The Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie, and her Department must be asked to ensure that there biomass facilities are used in every new housing estate, and the Environment Minster, Arlene Foster, and her Department must be asked to ensure that biomass facilities are used in every Government building. That seems straightforward to me and that is what officials should be doing.
Dr Speers:
I share your ambition that the market will be a driver for sustainable business, based on renewable energy, to which many Departments must contribute. That degree of co-ordination is not yet in place.
The Chairperson:
It is easy to look at what others are doing. As the Committee heard in the first presentation today, promoting sustainable energy affects all Departments, making it vitally important that there is a co-ordinating body, whether it is OFMDFM, to bring them together. However, what is DARD’s target for renewables? Your silence suggests that such targets do not exist.
Mr McKendry:
The CAFRE estate, which is part of DARD, has clear targets on renewable energy, which I referred to earlier, including a 10% reduction in energy consumption, 15% efficiency saving from renewable heat and 1% from renewable electricity.
Mr Chairperson:
What is the Department’s PSA target for renewable energy?
Dr Speers:
I do not have that specific information to hand.
The Chairperson:
Will the Department provide that information?
Dr Speers:
Certainly.
The Chairperson:
I am concerned that on the one hand the Committee is being told that there needs to be a driver to use biofuel because of the economic challenges — profitability, sustainability — that farmers face today, whereas, on the other hand the challenge is rising fuel costs. What steps are the Department taking to: first, help farmers to utilise renewable-energy technology on their land and; secondly, to assure them that their businesses are going to be more profitable than at present? There has to be something to drive the process forward.
Dr Speers:
There are a number of options available within renewable energy, of which many were outlined in our opening remarks.
The Chairperson:
Those seem to relate to a long-term approach. How far does that vision extend?
Dr Speers:
The Department’s approach is based on the view that those technologies — their efficiencies, contributions and sustainability — need to be proven in the Northern Ireland context. For many of those, that has yet to be done. As you indicated, Chairperson, cost infrastructure has changed over recent times. Therefore, before the Department makes commitments and recommendations it needs to ensure that there will be a sustainable market for the outputs.
We are all aware of the vulnerability of the food-production market — price reductions and fluctuations — which depends on factors outside our control. We do not want to move into commodity energy production, which would potentially suffer from the same fluctuation in prices.
We need to somehow determine where the niche is for Northern Ireland and where the value added is. Given the scale of our operation, we should not be a commodity player.
The Chairperson:
You say that we have to somehow to arrive at that point, but who is determining where the niche is, and what timescale are we talking about? Is this matter on the long finger? It seems that immediate challenges — indeed, any challenges — are always put on the long finger.
Dr Speers:
As Martin said, a range of trials are currently under way, and they are very focused and commercially oriented. They are the subject of both technological and economic analysis. The findings of those trials are being rolled out as we speak. They are real live projects that demonstrate the viability of renewable energy technology on farms now.
The Chairperson:
You said that you are going to present some of that evidence.
Mr W Clarke:
I want to pick up on a point that you made, Chairperson. It is fair enough to have trials and research and so on, but it seems that that is all that comes from the Department. All we hear is that the Department is looking at this or that, or that it is running a pilot scheme and so forth. All those technologies are proven throughout Europe, and we are playing second fiddle to the rest of Europe. What will happen? We will be passed by — we are that far behind.
I do not blame the Department; this problem is a hangover from direct rule. However, a sense of urgency is required. At the minute, as the Chairperson said, people are under immense pressure and are facing fuel poverty, and the Assembly, as an elected body, can do nothing about that. However, it can ensure that renewables are in place in the North of Ireland and Ireland. There should be less testing and more getting on with it.
What funding requests for renewables did the Department make to DFP in the last monitoring round?
Ms Rutherford:
In the last monitoring round, a total of £2·55 million was secured from DFP for the next three years under the Chancellor’s innovation fund.
Mr W Clarke:
That is peanuts. The Department should say to DFP that it needs £30 million.
The Chairperson:
The Department certainly should not say that if does not have any programmes prepared. There is no use in making demands for money if there is no programme on which to spend it. If a Department is asking DFP or anyone else for funding, it must have a programme to put on the table, and it must be costed. One cannot simply demand £30 million and have no reason for doing so.
I am wondering why the Department has not presented DFP with programmes. Why has it not said, “This is exactly where our plans are, and we need finance to put them into operation.” To the best of my knowledge, £10 million was available in the Programme for Government. How much funding has been pulled down from that? How much of the money available from Europe has been secured?
Mr W Clarke:
That is precisely what I am saying. I could draw up plans for the bids. The Department will never get a better opportunity to act than now. The community is in crisis because of fuel prices, and there will never be a better time for the Department to approach the Executive with a plan to resolve the issues involved. It should be telling them that it can do something about this issue, rather than saying that it cannot do much because of the global markets. This is an opportunity for the Department to take the lead and say that it wants proper measures to be implemented. There must be a cross-cutting approach across all Departments.
Mr T Clarke:
My question follows on from the member’s question. He asked how much the Department received in the last monitoring round. The Department said that it received £2·55 million, and he said that that was peanuts. How much did the Department bid for?
Ms Rutherford:
A number of bids were made under various umbrella headings. A bid was placed for money from the innovation fund, which I mentioned earlier, and a bid was made for the potential energy from the agrifood waste challenge fund.
Mr W Clarke:
You said that the Department received £2·55 million, but how much did it bid for?
Ms Rutherford:
That was a specific bid, and that bid was met.
Mr T Clarke:
So the Department asked for peanuts, and it got peanuts. You did not make a substantial bid —
The Chairperson:
With the greatest respect, we are only talking about peanuts if the bid that is submitted can be sustained. If the bid is not sustainable and cannot be scrutinised in depth, having been presented by the Department, there is no use bidding for money that is not going anywhere. The DARD renewable energy action plan has been in place for 15 months. It is easy to say that direct rule was in operation for part of that time, but we are no longer subject to direct rule. We are a year on from devolution; we cannot hide behind anyone else. We are talking about an action plan. The word “action” is to the forefront here. I am trying to find out exactly what action has been taken, because it is only on action that a bid can be made.
Dr Speers:
There are a couple of fundamental points to be made. The Chairperson has underlined the importance of having a robust business case in advance of making a bid. One of the most important issues is market demand, which at the moment is unclear. There is no definitive position with regard to market demand. Two research projects, led by DETI, are under way to examine the market for renewable energy in Northern Ireland. That work will provide the information and evidence base against which bids can be made. Coupled with that, we must ensure that we invest in the right technology areas. We have already mentioned how renewable energy embraces a wide range of technology areas from different renewable sources. We must ensure that investment in Northern Ireland is appropriate for us. That is why the trials, the research, the development work and the commercialisation is ongoing at AFBI and CAFRE, so that we have an evidence base on which to base further proposals for —
Mr T Clarke:
John, with the greatest respect; you said that a wide range of technologies is being developed. Why can we not pick one of those technologies after 15 months? Why are we not at the stage where one of those technologies is up and running? Why are we still talking about what is out there? Willow is not new. I do not know a lot about the technologies, but I have heard enough about them. In your previous presentation you made the point that willow technology is not new in other countries either. Why are we not looking at what everyone else is doing and copying them, as opposed to being left behind, as was said earlier?
Mr McKendry:
We are at the demonstration phase at the moment, and people are adopting biomass burners.
Mr T Clarke:
What are you doing to assist those developments?
Mr McKendry:
Do you mean from the financial perspective, or the knowledge perspective?
Mr T Clarke:
I mean from the financial perspective.
Ms Rutherford:
Support is available from the rural development programme and can be applied for. Those have been widely publicised to the agricultural community. Applicants can work with rural connect advisers to point them in the right direction.
Mr T Clarke:
What are those?
Ms Rutherford:
Rural connect advisers are agricultural advisers —
Mr T Clarke:
What support has been widely advertised that we should be aware of?
Ms Rutherford:
There are measures available under the agricultural processing and marketing grants scheme, particularly in support of forestry renewable technologies. Support is also available for the establishment of SRC willow technology from the woodland grants scheme. Axis 1 funding facilitates groups of farmers who come together to work on renewable energy projects. Support is also available for farm diversification. There is a wide range of measures, but we have to build confidence in the agricultural industry that those technologies can work commercially. DARD is focusing a great deal of effort on raising awareness and training.
Dr Speers:
If it would be helpful, we can provide a table of the various financial assistances available from DARD for renewable energy technologies.
The Chairperson:
What is the structure of the grants? Who can apply for the money? There are certain moneys set aside for rural areas. It is questionable how those moneys will be deliverable.
Dr Speers:
There is scope to provide financial assistance for microbusinesses under the processing and marketing grant scheme and the forestry scheme. It might be helpful to the Committee to have a table of the various financial support measures in place or planned for.
The Chairperson:
The phrase “planned for” can be a very elastic one. If schemes are opening, then I would like to know exactly when they are opening and how people can apply for grants.
Time is passing; and there a number of questions to be asked.
Mr Irwin:
Given your experience to date, which of the available renewable energy systems offers the greatest potential benefit to rural communities while contributing to the attainment of the Government’s renewable energy targets?
Mr McKendry:
There are a couple of issues in that question. The first is biomass, and centralised biomass systems. In Northern Europe, there are centralised plants producing hot water and delivering it to houses. Members of the UFU mentioned that earlier. The technology is sound and well proven, and the idea that the farming community would be moving up the supply chain, and would be delivering heat rather than wood chip, is more beneficial.
The second issue is anaerobic digestion, which is something that the Department has studied in Europe. We have looked at the economics and feasibility of anaerobic digestion, not only from the perspective of waste usage, the economics of which are marginal, but also from the perspective of production and green-crops, where the economics are much stronger. Those are the two main renewable energy systems in Europe that are well proven and well used and would provide local rural solutions in Northern Ireland.
Mr W Clarke:
John — you talked about market demand. DARD can help create market demand — it is within the Department’s remit to do so. All schools could have biomass heating systems, and the same could apply to hospitals, museums and social housing. DARD should be talking to the other Departments and saying to them that this is what is being proposed will happen three years from now. Let us look at this matter in a cohesive fashion, and roll it out. This is not rocket science, and I am not shooting the messenger.
It is frustrating because this is something that is within the Department’s remit. The forestry industry could be included as well, because it is always being said that there are not enough trees in Ireland — this is a win-win situation. The trees grown do not have to be willow trees — any trees could be used for this purpose. It has been said that there is an investigation into forestry residue and into the recovery of wood residue. What is there to investigate? If there are any fallen trees; take them, chip them, and put them into a biomass burner.
Dr Speers:
I agree that the concept of creating market demand and discussing the matter with other Departments is something that needs to be addressed pro-actively.
We need to have a better understanding of the scale and production of the field stock — and its potential constraints — before we encourage the introduction of a different heating or energy system to schools or hospitals, because the products might be vulnerable to a lack of consistent supply in the future.
Mr W Clarke:
John — you could get the farmers together through the Ulster Farmers’ Union. You could have the raw materials ready in three years’ time. It is Civil Service jargon to say: “We are doing this, or we are doing something else”. You have admitted that the benefits of the technology have been proven throughout the world. Let us implement it here. If, as a result of this inquiry, we achieve that, then it will have been a success.
Dr Speers:
I do not disagree. My only note of caution concerns whether a sustainable supply of the field stock required will be available.
Mr W Clarke:
Grow the trees.
Dr Speers:
Farmers are businessmen, and they will utilise their land in whatever way necessary to maximise their returns. It would be great if that could be achieved by growing fuel crops, but market dynamics can change. For instance, the cereal market is good at the moment. Market changes have the potential to disrupt supply and the continuity of supply of field stock.
The Chairperson:
That almost sounds like an excuse to do nothing. We were talking about an action plan, and I will quote what the Minister said at Loughry Campus on 23 August 2007:
“I am very keen to promote the opportunities that sustainable development of renewable energy in the agri-food sector and the wider rural economy can offer. I fully support this event and encourage all local industry to implement as many energy efficiency and renewable measures as possible.”
That sounds good — there is an energy action plan. However, the only thing that we do not have is action. I know that it is difficult for the witnesses to give the Committee answers this morning. We do not expect all of the answers this morning, but we do expect to hear some answers — make no mistake. Your answers will be scrutinised, because the Committee wants action.
Northern Ireland is falling behind as regards renewable energy; all of the other countries are passing us by. Others have visions and dynamism in this area, but it seems that we are trundling along, not knowing what to do. Such an attitude will not provide vision, and the crop will die.
Mr P J Bradley:
I apologise for my late arrival. As this is the first session of the inquiry, I would like to make a few comments. My views may be out on a limb, but I question the wisdom of using good arable land for growing fuel crops when there is a world food shortage. Mr W Clarke told us what success will mean for him. However, to me, this inquiry will be successful if arable land is restored to growing food crops — its proper use. We should be looking in that direction and forget about growing bio-crops.
Should the island of Ireland be seeking to grow bio-crops when the oil reserves that are off the shores of Ireland could be considered? As this debate progresses, many questions will be asked about the state of our land. For instance, if land is being used for growing bio-crops, when will it become arable land again? When can it be used for food production?
My views may be out on a limb, but I will not fail to present them to the inquiry. However, I may change my mind as the Committee gathers evidence and hears from people with greater expertise than me.
What progress has been made in establishing the energy from agrifood waste challenge fund? What sort of project does the Department hope to see developed as a result of the initiative?
Ms Rutherford:
To date, limited progress has been made. The Department is still establishing whether, under current legislation, it has permission to legally create the challenge fund. The Department is also working with DEFRA to establish our state-aid position, and hopes to be able to take a stance on that in the coming weeks. That is not to say that we should not proceed with the challenge fund on some basis, but we will have to explore options on how to do so. It is recognised that such a fund would give our farming community an opportunity to examine waste management and, perhaps, bring an additional revenue stream into their businesses by generating energy from waste.
Will you remind me what the second half of the question was?
Mr P J Bradley:
What sort of project do you hope will be developed? What would be included under that funding initiative?
Ms Rutherford:
We couched the proposal as a challenge fund because it is not for a specific type of technology. For example, we are not saying that we will fund only mesophilic anaerobic digester systems. We are examining the different technologies that are available for producing energy from waste. Couching the proposal as a challenge fund will allow different technologies to emerge.
The Chairperson:
Why did the Department announce the challenge fund 15 months ago in its renewable energy action plan, if it were not sure that it could create it? Now, it is finding that there are legal difficulties. Frankly, judging by the speed at which some legal advice is obtained, if that fund is the answer to farmers’ prayers to save their industry, may the good Lord help them, because lawyers move very slowly. We must have an answer. How long will it take to find out whether the fund is legal?
Dr Speers:
That issue has only arisen recently. The assumption was that the Department had the authority to administer such a grants scheme. On referral for legal advice, questions were raised, and we are seeking —
The Chairperson:
Was the proposal not referred for legal advice before it was announced in 2007?
Dr Speers:
For whatever reason, that seems not to have been the case.
Mr W Clarke:
What opportunities are contained in the rural development plan to support small renewable-energy projects, such as on-site anaerobic digesters or the small-scale production of biodiesel?
Ms Rutherford:
It may be economical to produce biodiesel for on-farm use only. Some measures would be available for capital equipment, possibly, under axis 1 of the rural development programme and, possibly, under axis 3, which covers farm diversification. However, I would need to look into that further.
Mr W Clarke:
Given the high cost of fuel, producing biodiesel would be a win-win situation.
Ms Rutherford:
It would be, if farmers have the crops available to meet the scale of demand.
Mr W Clarke:
But it would be for the farmer’s own use.
Ms Rutherford:
Some farms would be able to produce fuel for their own use. Was the other question about anaerobic digesters?
Mr W Clarke:
Yes; could they be used on a small scale, perhaps as an alternative to slurry tanks? Farmers are receiving a lot of grant aid for slurry tanks. It has been stated that farmers wish to use slurry as fertiliser, because other fertilisers are costly. However, the by-product of anaerobic digestion is also a fertiliser and soil conditioner that could be put on the land.
Ms Rutherford:
There may be some scope for on-farm anaerobic digesters under farm diversification measures.
Mr W Clarke:
Is that all?
Ms Rutherford:
Yes; until we examine the status of the energy from agrifood waste challenge fund.
Mr W Clarke:
Is there an opportunity, for example, for a farmer to apply for grant aid towards the cost of an anaerobic digester instead of a slurry tank?
Ms Rutherford:
Do you mean under the farm nutrient management scheme?
Mr W Clarke:
Yes.
Ms Rutherford:
No.
Mr W Clarke:
Is there no flexibility to do that?
The Chairperson:
Is that due to European legislation?
Dr Speers:
The state-aid regulations were specifically for storage facilities; that was the nature of the scheme that was agreed with the European Commission.
The Chairperson:
Would farmers be correct in continuing to store slurry for energy use?
Dr Speers:
Yes. The farm nutrient management scheme was introduced in order to comply with the nitrates directive and to increase storage capacity during the close season.
The Chairperson:
I appreciate that; however, as you said, things move on, and if another development meets European demands — for which the grant was available — and the grant is utilised more efficiently to produce a better return for the farmer, why not do that? Who would block that?
Dr Speers:
We would be open to exploring that possibility, and, indeed, that is the rationale of the energy from waste scheme that we mentioned.
Mr T Clarke:
You say that you would be open to exploring that possibility; however, the problem is that the drawdown of money finishes in December 2008. Given that you are open to exploring the Chairperson’s suggestion, which was a follow-up to Willie Clarke’s point, surely such exploration must be expedited, because, in addition to the reasons you outlined for setting it up, there would be problems delivering any new proposals by the end of December. When will you investigate the alternatives?
The Chairperson:
Moreover, there seems to be no legal basis for the energy from agrifood waste challenge fund.
Dr Speers:
We are seeking clarification on that point, although, it would be misleading to say that we have no legal basis for the fund. A question has been raised, and we are progressing as quickly as we can to clarify our legal position.
Mr McKendry:
I wish to add a comment about that: if we want to learn from what other people in Europe have done, the best examples are instances in which farmers have come together as a group in order to produce energy or biodiesel. Economically, Governments have found that it was not as beneficial to direct money towards individual, smaller farms. We are not talking about industrial scale —
The Chairperson:
Where did you get that information?
Mr McKendry:
From the Austrians, Germans and Danes. The best examples, which, years later, are still functioning, are of groups that have worked together, rather than individuals working alone. We must be careful about directing a lot of money towards individuals.
Mr W Clarke:
On that point, with which I entirely agree, why did we not introduce such initiatives under the nitrates directive? Why did we not roll that out to co-operatives? Given that it is more sustainable than storing slurry, which gives off greenhouse gasses, I cannot imagine why the EU would have stood in the Department’s way if that had been introduced.
Mr McKendry:
The difference with the nitrates directive was that it involved slurry being transported from farms to stores and back again to be spread on the land. The implementation of the nitrates directive was purely a storage matter. However, if a farmer collects slurry in order to produce energy, he or she would actually be transporting a source of energy.
Mr W Clarke:
That is an active process. Putting the by-product on the land would be fine because it is inert.
Mr T Clarke:
Another way to put that would be to ask whether that possibility was explored by the Department.
Mr McKendry:
Do you mean whether it was initially part of the nitrates directive?
Mr T Clarke:
Yes. If the action plan covers 15 months, should that not be taken into consideration in it?
The Chairperson:
We are where we are, and we want action. It will be interesting to see what is forwarded to the Committee. The Committee wishes to make progress, and it realises that farmers face many challenges. Profitability is essential, and I agree with Mr P J Bradley’s fundamental point; I want farmers to do what they do best, which is to produce the best possible food.
However, it must also be remembered that farmers cannot produce food at an unsustainable cost. The farming community can no longer be taken advantage of in that way, because farming families cannot survive on good wishes and goodwill alone. Farmers are the butt of many people’s jokes about crying wolf. However, anyone who is familiar with the industry knows that it is in crisis, and knows the challenges that it has been facing in the red meat sector, the milk sector, the pig sector and the poultry sector. The entire industry has faced many challenges. Farmers cannot be expected to hear that they need to produce food but that people do not want to pay a proper price for it and that they will be undercut by importing food of a different quality from around the world. That cannot be done.
The Department is famously saying “diversify, diversify, diversify”. However, farmers need to see exactly what areas they can diversify into — if, indeed, they want to diversify — because there is a large section of the farming community that wants to continue producing food, which is what they do best.
I have much sympathy with P J Bradley’s comments, bearing in mind the current talk of great food shortages across the world. Therefore, we must ensure that we can feed not only our own people but the world. However, we cannot feed the world on wishes or goodwill. We can feed the world only when farming is profitable; and farming, as a business, has a right to be profitable.
Thank you for your presentation. There is a great deal of information that you need to forward to the Committee, and we will view that with interest.
Dr Speers:
Thank you.