Just 10 years ago we made a commitment to invest in solar energy production at Oaks Barn Farm, at the time it was a risk and payback was estimated at year 15. No one could have foreseen the current situation with electricity prices, however taking the decision to do the right thing for the environment was the right thing for us and our business.
Taking considered difficult decisions are often more palatable when you know you are making your business more sustainable.
The Figures
Last year we produced 5,878Kw of electricity, this year to date, we have generated 6,726Kw this year, which does not include December’s figures.
Although our 18p feed-in tariff is not great, our purchase price for these green units is currently worth 36.72p to us so from our production, we make a direct saving of £1195 in electricity not purchased from the grid.
Our Sustainability
In 2020 Oaks Barn Farm avoided 4.5t of CO² which is equivalent to 356 trees planted
In 2021 Oaks Barn Farm avoided 4.1t of CO² which is equivalent to 329 trees planted
In 2022 (Year to date)Oaks Barn Farm has avoided 4.7t of CO² which is equivalent to 376 trees planted or 3.1 long hall flights or driving 23541KM in an Electric Vehicle.
Over the 10 years since our installation, we have produced 67260KW of green energy worth £12191.40 at .18p per unit which at today’s electricity price of .3672p per unit equates to a saving of £24712 from a 15K investment.
Over the 10 years, this equates to a 44.3t of CO² saving, which is the equivalent of planting 3530 trees, which is the equivalent of 31 long hall flights or 235,410km in an electric vehicle.
For more information on booking a Green Farm Stay with us visit Accommodation Options
For more information on our journey towards Net Zero visit Oaks Barn Farm Working Towards Net Zero And A Sustainable Farming Future
Smart Technologies Deployed
EON Next have installed a smart Meter at Oaks Barn Farm, this allows us to monitor whole-site consumption via phone app. We already have the SunnyBoy Smart Home manager which records our solar production on site, this will also manage our battery storage allowing us to use 100% of our produced electricity on site.
EON Next also supply our imported electricity we chose them as they match their grid-supplied output with 100% green energy production. This in turn allows us to reduce our carbon footprint further through our supply chain.
During December we are also fitting metering to our events barn and are working with Worcestershire County Council to install smart metering and smart heating controls to each of our Farm Stay Properties.
Our EV Chargepoint Eco setting delivers charge when Solar generation exceeds consumption,
