Renewable energy keeps farm well watered
Marchweeke Farm in Devon has installed a water-supply system powered by wind and solar energy. The farm specialises in home-produced meats and poultry which are delivered direct to customers’ homes.
The farm’s rapid growth required a reliable and cost-effective water supply. The high price of water led to the farm considering having a private borehole drilled. However, the prohibitive cost of providing a mains electricity supply to the remote location led to the farm approaching Grundfos Pumps for a renewable-energy source.
Contractor Bradbury Water Services installed 3.7 km of 50 mm pipe, and Saxton Drilling drilled a borehole to a depth of 60 m. A Grundfos SQ Flex 2.5-2 pump was installed at 58 m with a rest water level at 1.5 m below ground level.
A wind turbine and two Grundfos solar panels on a pole mount were also installed. There are two 20 000 l storage tanks, which can store up to two days’ requirements.
Since its installation, the system has supplied all the farm’s water needs.
