More than 50 leading companies involved in the renewable energy sector will be exhibiting at Cereals 2014, a record number for the event.

Visitors keen to discover more about this rapidly expanding area of farm diversification can view and discuss a wide range of technologies with the experts in the dedicated renewables area at Cereals.

Advice on anaerobic digestion (AD), biomass, wind turbines and solar PV is readily available and there are also opportunities to grow and supply fuel crops.

“Renewable energy generation has created a huge amount of interest among UK farmers and we predict a busy time for our exhibitors,” says Cereals event director Jon Day of Haymarket Exhibitions.

“With careful planning, good returns on investment are still very much achievable and Cereals 2014 provides visitors with a great opportunity to compare and contrast the latest renewable energy technologies and assess the prospects.”

Farmers are huge users of energy but there is plenty of scope to reduce costs, says solar PV company Waldon Energy. The firm will explain how visitors can take advantage of generous feed-in tariffs and competitively priced solar panels.

Government is keen to promote mid-scale solar PV, says the company, which typically supplies systems ranging from 35-250kW.

Spectrum Energy Systems reports increased interest from farmers and landowners looking to diversify their income, cut costs and increase profits through the installation of solar panels and/or wind turbines.

Spectrum specialises in the supply and installation of ground and roof-mounted solar PV arrays and wind turbines up to 850kW, including new and remanufactured wind turbines from 10kW to 850kW.

AD developer Qila Energy is offering farmers full non-recourse funding to pay for planning permission, grid connection, plant build and operation. Funding is available for over 30 499kWe or 1MWe 2-stage farm-based AD plants across the UK, says Qila.

Farmers are paid a site lease to provide feedstock and an operator salary, with the opportunity to buy the plant as an operating asset in a couple of years. They can also buy their plant directly and own it outright.

Emergya Wind Technologies has taken its one hundredth UK order for a Directwind 54-500kW turbine. The exhibitor will use its in-house expertise from engineering to manufacturing, installation and servicing of wind turbines to help explain opportunities to growers.

Biomass and renewable energy specialists Eco2 is in the market to buy fuel for its straw-fired power stations, which it says offer competitive returns and secure long-term agreements.

The company is returning to Cereals after beginning testing and commissioning operations at its flagship renewable energy biomass project at Sleaford.

Eco2 is building a similar-sized (40MW) biomass plant near Brigg, North Lincolnshire and its plant at Snetterton in Norfolk has gained planning consent.

Solicitor Wilkin Chapman’s renewable energy division offers advice to clients considering investing in often complex renewable energy projects that require legal advice across a range of areas.

The firm has advised on more than 10 AD projects, for farmers, developers and funders, and is also experienced in the advice of both offshore and land-based wind farms and renewable crops (miscanthus).

Cereals 2014 takes place on 11^th and 12^th June at Chrishall Grange, near Duxford, Cambridgeshire. Tickets cost £23 each (£19 for students) and are available at www.cerealsevent.co.uk

Visitors qualify for 2 NRoSO points and 3 BASIS points for attending either day. In addition, there is the chance to earn additional points throughout the event.

Further information at www.cerealsevent.co.uk