partner feature
Is your land suitable for renewable energy use?
W
e have all read the news articles about climate change and the need for us to move away from our reliance on fossil fuels. The options for landowners are wide ranging and there are currently Feed in Tariffs (FiT’s)
in place which will provide a return on any electricity generated which returns to the grid. With so many choices to make, and so much information
available, it can be hard to know where to start, and what will be the best decision in the long term both for your property and financially. The best place to start is to look at what rights and interests your land has and to compare those to the current and future
Is my land/building suitable? Solar
Solar panels are most commonly installed on south facing roofs so the position of your property will be crucial. The panels are most commonly installed by the property owner leasing part of its property (ie the roof) to a solar panel company on a 25-year lease.
You should also consider: • Is the property structural sound enough to support the panels?
• Will planning permission be required? It almost certainly would be for a large scale commercial development but some residential installation may not require planning permission.
• Special consideration to planning should be made if your property is a listed building or in a conversation area.
• Is your property leased? If you have a leasehold property, your lease is likely to have restrictions against making alterations or sub-letting and your landlord should be contacted.
• If you are the landlord of a building and you wish to lease the roof space, the tenants may have statutory rights that need to be considered.
• It has been suggested that future FiTs may be limited to those properties with a higher rating on an Energy Performance Certificate.
• FiT’s for new installations have been reduced, is the proposed level offer to you guaranteed? Will the solar panels have an impact on any future sale of the property?
We at HardingEvans can help you to make the right choice. Call Sam Strong on 01633 760664 or e-mail
strongs@hevans.com
10 THEbusiness QUARTER Wind Power
Wind turbines are a subject of much debate, mainly from an aesthetics point of view but, love them or loathe them, some of the more attractive FiT rates are for medium-scale turbines. Wind turbines are generally installed by a third party who will take a 25-year lease of your land. This is the likely life span of a turbine.
You should also consider: • The third party installer will need planning permission to construct the wind turbine. As this is costly, they are likely to require an Option to Lease over your land before they will start the planning process. The amounts paid to you to secure the Option, and indeed the rental paid to you once the turbine is in operation, vary greatly between different installers and specialist advise should be sought.
• Will your neighbours object to the turbine and will any dissent cause you difficulty if planning is granted?
• Do your neighbours have any rights of light or air which may be affected? Are there any restrictive covenants on your land that prohibit construction on the land? Your title deeds should be checked.
• Does your land have sufficient access for the vehicles needed to bring the turbine to your site?
• Your property will also need sufficient rights for the pipes and connections needed for the electricity generated to return to the grid. Would any pipes need to cross a neighbours land? While you and your property may have the necessary rights, the third party installer may want those rights to be in their favour, not yours, which will mean your neighbour granting further rights – at their discretion!
• Most leases are for 25 years, what will happen to your land at the end of that lease? Care should be taken to ensure that the land is returned in a satisfactory condition and the turbine is removed.
Once these considerations have been undertaken, the associated costs and returns can be fully considered to achieve the best financial outcome and, of course, to help the environment! Whatever option you are considering, we at Harding Evans can help you to make the right choice.
requirements for renewable energy use. Then you can ascertain which is the most viable for your land and, ultimately, what will bring you the best return on your investment.
What are the options?
While renewable energy can come from many sources, such a tidal power or anaerobic digestion plants, the most common types of on shore renewable energy for small to medium scale landowners are • Solar/photovoltaic • Wind power
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