Steelstrath, Laurencekirk

The continuing rise in the cost of energy has impacted everybody, but it presents a particular challenge to farmers with a high electricity demand.  The Carnegies, widely known for supplying cultivation, harvesting, spraying and lime spreading contract services to farmers across the Mearns, recognised how PV could help them counter this challenge and allow them to take control of their own energy costs.

East coast farmers and contractors David, Brian and Derek Carnegie of D.M. Carnegie have just had a 50kWp PV array installed by Scotland’s leading agricultural roof-top solar PV supplier, Forster Energy on the roof of a grain store at their Steelstrath premises near Laurencekirk? .

The initial 200 panel 50kWp roof-top solar PV array was installed under permitted development works.  Subject to planning approval the Carnegies are looking to bolt on to the same composite roof a further 50kWp array.  They are also in the process of installing a 500kW wind turbine which will further enhance their green credentials.

It is expected that the Carnegies system will have paid for itself within six years and yield a 20 year annual return on investment of an impressive 22%.