A LOSTWITHIEL couple have brought their 450-year-old farm into the 21st century by installing cutting edge renewable energy.

Ronald and Wendy Jordan, aged 67 and 66, run their own beef farm and provide accommodation for people with severe physical disabilities at Hartswell Farm, Downend.

They are among the first people in the country to sign onto the Government's energy cashback scheme, putting in solar photovoltaic cells which will help towards the new Feed-in-Tariffs (FITs).

Mr Jordan said: "Wendy and I have always had an invested interest in renewable energy as an environmentally sustainable way to generate power, so solar panels were the next step towards making our home more energy efficient and to protect ourselves financially in the future. While interest rates were so low, it seemed like the ideal time to invest and we're even looking at installing a solar thermal system.

"We are already seeing the benefits of generating our own energy and expect these to grow as we begin to earn money through the FITs."

The panels convert sunlight directly into electricity that can be used for normal household consumption. Mr Jordan has a background in electrical engineering, and both he and his wife are advocates of renewable energy and are keen to make the farm, which they've had for 23 years, more sustainable for the future. Mrs Jordan said: "It's early days yet as it was put in back in the autumn. But while the weather is fine like this it is wonderful watching the meter go back. We are pleased we have done it, it makes a statement and it will reduce our bills. We have always tried to be green."

Homeowners will get money for every unit of energy they generate and can sell back excess energy to the grid. On days when more electricity is needed than the panels produce, the system automatically uses power from the grid. Although their 1560s property was not suitable for roof installation, the Jordans' farmland provided an ideal location and a 2.2 kWp system was ground-mounted on the southern side of the property. The solar panels now generate the vast majority of the electricity used in the farmhouse.

Ronald and Wendy chose npower to install their solar panels and have recycled since the concept of recycling was first introduced years ago. They also use natural spring water on their farm. For more information about the Jordans' farm, visit their website www.connexions.co.uk/Hartswell