If the past two weeks have taught us anything, it is that the status quo with regard to energy security cannot continue.

Under our current supply chain model, energy security is not guaranteed.

The only way we can truly secure our energy future is by producing it ourselves on the island. The message, then, is simple: never waste a good fuel crisis. Now is the time to rapidly ramp up renewable energy.

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If you give farmers the right tools and support, they will respond in droves. This is already well proven. After the last energy crisis just a few short years ago, farmers installed solar panels in their thousands.

Rules were changed, supports were introduced, and it made financial sense to invest. However, it takes foresight, speed and a sense of urgency to put the right measures in place quickly. This Government has demonstrated little of that.

Key areas

In this week’s renewables focus feature, we take a look at the key measures being implemented on farms today, rooftop solar panels, solar farms, and diesel costs.

Diesel, petrol, oil, gas, or practically any fuel is influenced by a volatile global market, and diesel prices are just the latest to be affected. On page 43, we examine what alternatives are available to power tractors other than diesel.

The short answer is that there are still limited options, but there are other solutions that, with the right grant support, could make switching viable.

With electricity prices set to rise further this year, we visited several farmers who have installed solar PV systems on their farms. The poultry, dairy and potato farms have installed varying system sizes, supported by different grant schemes, and are all seeing relatively short payback periods. Turn to pages 44 and 45 for more.

On page 46, we explore the implications of leasing land for a solar farm. Hundreds of farmers have leased thousands of acres of their farmland for solar developments.

However, this can impact your entitlements and area-based schemes, so it is important to be aware of these considerations before entering into an agreement.