Welsh farmers can’t afford to miss out on energy support funding
Eligible farm businesses in Wales can access subsidised support towards energy, water and carbon reduction advice through the refreshed Farming Connect programme. At Tierson Farm, this support helped Derrick Davies commission an independent NFU Energy audit and identify more than £4,000 in potential annual savings.
Funding support for Welsh farmers
NFU Energy is an approved adviser for the Farming Connect Advisory Service, meaning eligible Welsh farmers can access 70% funding, capped at £1,000, towards energy, water and carbon reduction advice.
Funding is limited and subject to approval by Farming Connect before work begins. NFU Energy can help farmers understand the support available and liaise with their local Farming Connect officer as part of the application process.
The challenge at Tierson Farm
Tierson Farm is a dairy and arable business in Pembrokeshire with a 200-cow milking herd consuming nearly 100,000 kWh of electricity each year. Like many farmers across the country, they recognised the need to respond proactively to rising energy prices in order to protect business margins and improve long-term sustainability. Derrick wanted a clearer picture of how electricity was being used across the site and where realistic savings could be made without disrupting day-to-day farming operations.
The farm already had solar PV, but Derrick also wanted to understand how to make better use of the electricity generated on site and reduce reliance on imported grid power.
How funding helped Derrick take the next step
The availability of Farming Connect funding through the Welsh Government helped Derrick decide to go ahead with the energy audit. By reducing the barrier to commissioning specialist support, the funding enabled Tierson Farm to obtain independent, farm-specific advice backed by technical and economic analysis. His experience shows how funded advice can help Welsh farmers move from concerns about rising energy costs to a clear, evidence-based plan. “The availability of the funding was very helpful in making the decision to proceed with the audit,” Derrick said.
“It was very helpful to have an independent assessment and understand how to better control energy costs moving forward.”
An independent assessment of the whole farm
The assessment identified more than £4,000 in potential annual cost savings and highlighted over 16,000 kWh of avoidable energy use. Opportunities ranged from no-cost and low-cost changes to targeted investment in cooling, heating and mechanical systems, with practical payback potential.
It also identified ways to increase the value of the farm's solar generation, improve monitoring and control, and reduce the amount of electricity imported from the grid.
Interested in accessing support?
Welsh farmers and growers can contact NFU Energy to discuss their eligibility for Farming Connect support and explore how independent advice could identify savings and improve the value of on-site generation. For more information, contact us on 024 7669 6512.
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