TURBINES can be a money spinner for cash-strapped farmers on Teesside, renewables bosses have claimed.

Eco Environments, which has recently opened an office in Darlington, has teamed up with Scottish turbine makers Proven Energy to install turbines eligible for feed-in tariff payments.

Bosses say interest is growing from farmers and businesses on industrial sites that want to turn wind power into extra revenue.

Since April, anyone installing a wind turbine that’s registered under the national Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is paid per kilowatt produced - whether they use the power themselves or not.

Any unused electricity can then be sold back to the grid, which attracts a further payment.

Proven Energy, whose flagship 35-2 turbine has just gain accreditation under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, has chosen energy installers Eco Environments as a Value Added Retailer (VAR).

Eco Environments director, David Hunt, said wind turbines were a viable option for landowners.

“We’ve already had some interest from the rural farming community,” he said. “There are lots of open and exposed sites with very good wind speed in the area.

“It’s reassuring for customers that they will definitely get 20 years of payback time.

“It’s very appealing to firms with industrial units - it’s another revenue stream for farmers who are being squeezed in all areas of the sector.

“If you have the land, it can be a better option than solar panels, but you really need the right location.

“Our advantage is that we also offer photovoltaic panels, so we can look at both options for the customer.”

The company had to pass a number of tests to be awarded VAR status by Proven Energy, including demonstrating its excellence in selling and installing wind turbines, high levels of customer care and support and overall strength of its business.

The next step for the Liverpool-based company is to seek accreditation to install thermal solar panels and heat pumps, ahead of the Renewable Heat Incentive - a similar scheme to feed-in tariffs that covers heat instead of electricity.

“We want to expand both our domestic and commercial businesses in 2011,” added Mr Hunt.