The microgeneration of electricity using solar panels for farms has been much promoted recently. No doubt you’ve seen at least one such solar installation on a farm building or on agricultural land near you. Interest in investing in solar technology has risen sharply because the very real financial returns that can be achieved, by generating and using your own electricity and reducing your bills.
Got a question about commercial solar?
James Cunningham, oversees all of our commercial installations. If you’re interested in understanding what renewable energy can offer your operation contact James today.
Farmers have been experts of harnessing and using solar energy for thousands of years. Almost every form of agriculture involves the use of the sun, efficiently converting the energy to produce forms of energy we need for life.
In recent years, rising electricity costs have added to the escalating overheads affecting UK farmers and the profitability of their businesses. It therefore shouldn’t come as any surprise that farmers and landholders in the UK are starting to realise the potential of using unused roof space of solar panels for farm buildings or parcels of relatively unproductive land.
These can be perfect for solar PV installations to generate your own electricity, cut fuel bills and potentially have an additional income stream to support your business. In fact, there’s a large number of solar farmers already reaping the financial rewards from this technology.
Roof Mounted Solar PV Systems For Farms
Most farms and agricultural businesses have buildings that are suitable for roof mounted solar PV installations. Agricultural buildings typically have a have 10-15° roof pitch, which will generate substantial amounts of power even when the roof is not necessarily facing south.
Solar panels on farm building roofs do not require planning permission and, once installed, maintenance and servicing costs for PV installations are low. In addition to offering long-term protection from rising energy costs, along with cheaper electricity bills, solar energy is renewable. This means no greenhouses gases are released and no natural resources depleted.
What Are Solar Farms & Parks?
Solar parks or farms are large-scale installations of solar PV panels on the ground, covering anything from 1 acre to 1000 acres. They are a nature friendly way of generating electricity for the grid, with virtually no noise or waste.
Many solar farms can be combined with other types of farming, such as sheep grazing, and be set up by agricultural businesses or community groups to provide green local energy. Solar parks are eligible for financial incentive schemes such as PPA’s.
Solar Power Guidance
Geo Green Power can offer advice on the best options available for your agricultural buildings and unproductive land, as well as on the sort of returns you can expect to receive on your solar investment. Our team will work with any size of installation and whatever budget is available to design, supply and fit a system that is perfect for your requirements, and with the option to extend it at a later date if required.
Solar Power FAQ
Will I have to get planning permission?
Not in the vast majority of cases. However, if you want your solar PV system to be ground mounted on your land, if your property is part of a world heritage site, or is listed, then planning permission would likely have to be sought in advance. We will provide full assistance in completing applications and supplying any information requested to ensure the process is as quick and easy as possible.
For more helpful information see our Solar Panel FAQ’s page.
Case Study
A Peak District sheep farmer is making healthy returns, calculated to be 16.6% gross, from a solar PV system that is reducing energy and solid fuel bills, by generating electricity, heating water and powering EV chargers!
When Edward Piekos wanted to invest in more Solar PV for his Peak District farm, he found Geo Green Power was his perfect partner.
Contact us today for our Agricultural Solar Panels
Contact our team today and we’ll be happy to explain all about the potential costs and returns of solar panels for farms and how your agricultural business could benefit. Call us for free on 0800 9883188 or fill in our online enquiry form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
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