With farm costs increasing every day, all available avenues are being explored to save money.

One thing the industry cannot live without is electricity and as part of the EU-funded Harnessing Rural Capital project, a visit was arranged to the Parc Cynog wind farm, near Pendine for a practical workshop on energy generation and self sufficiency.

Nicholas Dorrell, of Narberth, has wide practical knowledge in this field, and looked at whether small scale wind energy generation was a feasible option for farmers in offsetting rising energy costs as well as possibly providing an alternative or additional source of income.

Mr Dorrell said the further away a turbine is from buildings and trees, the better the average wind speed will be, and he also emphasised that wind speeds up as it nears the top of a slope and slows down considerably on the other side of a hill as it descends into the valley.

"Another thing to bear in mind is that there is normally more wind in the winter months than the summer ones. A wind turbine is therefore a very good match for heating and lighting requirements which are of course needed more in winter, but maybe not so well matched to air conditioning needs," he added.

For more details about the Harnessing Rural Capital project, contact Carwyn Rhys Roberts, diversification project officer on 01554 748565.

2:59pm Friday 9th May 2008

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