Landowners attempting to navigate on-farm renewable energy projects are now able to access the critical knowledge in efforts to ensure fair and equitable outcomes.
The Australian-owned advisory company RELA is providing landowners with an understanding of the relative value of the land to the project, and unpacking the implications to farm management plans and the construction process.
RELA chief executive officer Michael Katz said the platform connected the landowner with the “right” developer through an independent and competitive process, resulting in the negotiation of fair and equitable land agreements.
The company also offers landowners with existing projects the ability to access the capital value from their lease without selling their land.
“We are committed to helping landowners secure equitable outcomes as they participate in renewable energy projects on their land, optimising the coexistence of food and energy production,” Mr Katz said.
“Because RELA’s business model is focused on delivering the best outcomes for landowners, it is independent from any influence by individual developers.”
The service has been partnered by the Queensland Farmers’ Federation and is in a strategic alliance with Elders.
Former National Farmers’ Federation president Brent Finlay – who is a strategic adviser to RELA – is well versed in renewables.
Mr Finlay’s south east Queensland grazing property Cooinda near Dalveen hosts a section of the 162 turbine, 923 megawatt MacIntyre Wind Farm.
“Landowners have needed a platform like RELA to provide access to the expertise that maximised returns both from an economic and sustainable outcome, while giving farmers access to income and capital,” Mr Finlay said.
“The platform simplifies what can be a complex process and ensures that landowners remain in control of their land, while the developers take carriage of the project.”
Queensland Farmers’ Federation CEO Jo Sheppard said RELA provides an additional layer of confidence and protection.
“RELA actively supports landowners to assess the viability and potentially progress into an agreement for a renewable energy project on their land,” Ms Sheppard said.
Elders NSW Real Estate manager Richard Gemmell said RELA was bringing its expertise and networks to help regional landowners to navigate the barriers to achieving their objectives through renewable energy opportunities.
“RELA has successfully transacted with some of the country’s largest corporate farmers and agri businesses, as well as many smaller family run farming operations, bringing value and benefit to all landowners and their communities,” Mr Gemmell said.
Jess Salvato, RELA’s legal counsel, said RELA had helped landowners overcome challenges related to renewable energy projects.
“We’ve worked with landowners who faced significant roadblocks in their negotiations with developers,” Ms Salvato said.
“In one instance, a landowner had shown interest in hosting a solar farm but had hit a standstill.
“RELA’s assessment and competitive process were instrumental in breaking through these barriers and securing a successful outcome for both the landowner and the developer.”
RELA also offers landowners with existing projects the ability to access the capital value from their lease without selling their land.
This takes the form of a prepayment of the net present value of rental income the landowner would receive over the lifetime of the lease from the energy developer.
“RELA Prepay provides cash for growth, diversification and estate planning, but it also means money goes back into the local community, through the purchase of vital equipment and products to make farming operations more productive, profitable and sustainable now and for the future,” Mr Katz said.
Queensland cattle producer Belinda Saal and her family were looking for financial solutions to navigate rising debt and interest rates when they discovered RELA’s lease prepayment option.
With RELA’s help, they were able to unlock capital from their renewable energy lease and use the funds strategically for future investments and farm growth, Ms Saal said.
“RELA provides landowners like us the opportunity to unlock capital to meet immediate financial needs, including acquiring land as opportunities arise so that we can make generation plans.”
To date, more than 200 landowners have used RELA’s platform to generate an estimate of their land value for renewable energy projects with over 15 going through the tender process.
Written by Mark Phelps, Queensland Country Life
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