Southwest Environmental Limited

Agricultural

As with most industries agriculture has ample paper work to deal with. Southwest Environmental as Agricultural Consultants can relieve you of this burden, and although we would not seek to be continually involved within your operation, we would look to support you enterprise in the form of one off applications for grants or capacity markets.

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Renewables

The recent introduction of capacity markets has lead to a shift in renewables provision on farms, solar is slightly less favorable than it was, and we are seeing the emergence of technologies to provide base load generation capacity. Southwest Environmental; can help with all aspects of setting up a renewable energy source on your agricultural holding, from appraisal to planning and project management.

Wind

SWEL have been involved in several wind turbine projects on farms over the last 6 years. We can make appraisal of the area for grid connectivity and wind resource, applying for planning and introduce agricultural industries to investors who will finance the installation of the turbine. A 500 KW turbine is a good size to opt for and we would seek to balance visual impacts with maximizing height of the mast so as to make best use of the wind resource on site.

Solar

Solar power is space intensive. It requires a great deal of scape to generate a worthwhile amount of electricity and quiet often this is at odds with the main business principals of most agricultural industries, you can not grow wheat on a field covered in solar panels. However the finical rewards are extensive, and particularly when agricultural industries are looking to diversify, Solar can be an attractive option. We can make appraisal of the area for grid connectivity and solar resource, applying for planning and introduce agricultural industries to investors who will finance the installation of the solar farm.

Biomass

Biomass its a tried and tested source of heat, but it is far less commonly used for electricity generation. However generation of base load electricity is exactly what sells well in the current capacity markets and favorable amounts are paid.

Waste to Land

Spreading waste on your prized land may not sound like a very attractive idea, but in fact there are many practical and economic benefits fro doing just that. Compost can be spread on to agricultural land is very high in nutrients, providing an alterative to paid nutrient supplements. Further more wastes can be very good for soils structure, sand or grits from filter beds of sewage treatment works, are very beneficial to heavy clay soils.

Farms are often isolated, and this makes them favorable places to establish activities that might be unfavorable else where, for example many permitted activities require 250 meter buffer around the site, and nearly all farms will provide this, whilst for example an industrial estate might not.  This puts farmers at an advantage when it comes to gaining the necessary permits and planning for setting up waste activities on site.

Catchment Management

Catchment Management is about preventing pollution from getting into raw water sources rather than relying on ‘end of pipe’ solutions, like water treatment, while delivering other benefits for the economy and environment. Water companies have to ensure that the water they supply to customers complies with the drinking water standards. To do this, they have traditionally built treatment plants to remove pollution from the water. These plants are expensive to build and operate, both in cash and carbon terms.

A better solution is to provide upstream management aspects of water quality such as colour as hard to control and expensive to improve in a plant. For example practices such a gulley blocking, or vegetation of slopes has proved effective in reducing loads on treatment works etc. SWEL can help farmers identify areas for improvement and secure funding for said improvements.

Ecosystem Services

Farmers could receive millions of pounds towards farming methods that reduce flooding, provide clean water and restore wildlife, according to a report from think tank Green Alliance and the National Trust. Please see our dedicated Eco-System Services Page for Further Information.

CAP

It is likely that is the BREXIT process runs its course then CAP will be replaced by a domestic equivalent.

Farm Environmental Audits

We have acted on behalf of numerous farmers & agri-business owners to conduct environmental audits for their sites. These can be complete audits, or more informal offering where site owners & operators may want outside opinions on operating procedures etc.

Manure Management

If you holding falls within a nitrate vulnerable zone, then you will be subject to special manure management obligations. These can be hard or soft options. Investment and formalised storage could provide a low effort solution, whilst management (typically rotation) could provide a low cost option but with higher effort involved. 

Nutrient Neutrality

Many developments add nutrients to the environment, the two of principal concern are nitrates and phosphates. These can then be passed in to rivers via sewers or indirectly via ground water where they may impact on protected ecosystems. A habitats regulation assessment is then required to assess impacts and if possible to provide mitigation, so as to prove Nutrient Neutrality .

Lower Carbon Beef

Learn about "Lower Carbon Beef" what it is, and how to make a green claim on that basis.

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S.D. Content Land Remediation Consultants Bristol - 01173 270 092 Exeter - 01398 331 258 London - 02076 920 670