Solar Panels For Farms To Reduce Energy Costs & Increase Energy Security
- Enquire - Tell us a little about your farm's size and operational needs
- Survey - Let us carry out our free survey
- Quote - After the survey we’ll put together a no-obligation quote
- Installation - We'll start the installation process
Why Use Solar Panels On Your Farm?
Farmers are no strangers to technology and harnessing the power of the sun. Modern, smart farming has embraced agricultural technology (agri-tech) such as artificial intelligence (AI), drones, and farm management software and it’s becoming increasingly popular.
It’s no secret that farmers have always been aware of the importance of the sun. Sunlight drives photosynthesis, the natural biological process that provides energy crucial to grow crops to market and to feed livestock. So it makes perfect sense for farmers to use solar panels to generate free electricity from the sun to power their home and various agricultural operations.
Effective Home can give you a free online quote for your farm solar panels in less than two minutes.
Farms And Solar – The Perfect Fit
Farms are a perfect location for high-output solar arrays that provide a safeguard against future rises in electricity prices. Farmhouses and farm outbuildings such as barns typically provide ample space for a powerful rooftop solar panel system – and expanses of farmland present the opportunity to take solar to the next level with the addition of ground-mounted solar panels.
Together, these systems will produce sufficient solar power to significantly cut electricity costs and business overheads and reduce carbon emissions.
Cutting Costs Of Farm High Energy Demand
Depending on size and type of operations, farms generally use far more energy than homes.
On top of farmhouse electricity costs, farmers need to power equipment to run energy-hungry agricultural systems. Larger farms may need tens of thousands of kilowatt (kWh) hours of electricity a month. This compares with around 242 kWh for a typical UK home.
The high energy demand of farms can result in eye-watering electricity bills. Solar panels cut these costs significantly.
Increasing Farm Profitability
Constantly fluctuating electricity prices alongside escalating costs of other overheads may challenge farm profitability. Solar panels can increase farm profits by reducing energy bills.
Farmhouses and farm outbuildings are an ideal place for powerful rooftop solar panels to power households and farming operations. And farmland provides plenty of space for ground-mounted solar panels.
Our Solar Product Options
Solar Panels & Battery
Solar Panels
Commercial
Government Grants
How Do Solar Panels Work?
Solar PV panels produce renewable electricity through the scientific phenomenon of photovoltaics.
Solar cells in the panels contain semiconducting silicon that absorbs electromagnetic energy in sunlight and turns it into a direct current (DC) of electricity. A solar inverter converts the direct current into an alternating current (AC) so it can be used in the same way that mains electricity from the National Grid powers households and businesses.
Why Choose Effective Home
- 0800 123 4567
- 0800 123 4567
Let us reduce your energy bills the effective way
Around 1.5 million solar panel systems have so far been installed across the UK. Demand continues to grow with the pressing need to combat climate change by reducing carbon emissions.
Solar panels also cut electricity costs – more so if you add a solar battery – and give you the opportunity to make money by selling surplus energy. Furthermore, they can raise the value of property.
Carbon Reduction
Solar panels generate low-carbon electricity and most are carbon neutral within three years after installation. And they produce no greenhouse gas pollutants.
Lower Energy Bills
Solar power cuts energy bills by reducing reliance on expensive electricity from the mains grid. Solar panels can save around 70 percent on energy costs. Combined with battery storage, that figure rises up to 90 percent.
Increased Farm Value
The improved energy performance of farms with solar panels may attract more interest on the commercial property market, with buyers willing to pay a premium.
Selling Solar Energy
Excess energy generated by solar panels can be sold back to the National Grid under the Smart Export Guarantee.
Farm Solar Panels With Batteries
Solar batteries maximise the benefits of agricultural solar panels. They give you a supply of stored solar energy you can use when your solar panels stop working after sunset. Or you can sell more electricity to the National Grid.
Applications Of Solar Panels For Farms
Solar power cuts farmhouse electricity costs and reduces energy bills for agricultural systems such as:
- Crop irrigation.
- Grain storage and drying.
- Temperature and humidity control, lighting, and ventilation for livestock shelters and large-scale greenhouses.
- Milking parlours.
- Refrigeration units for milk, crops, and meat products.
- Electric fences around livestock.
Rooftop Solar Panels For Farms
Effective Home can install high-yield solar panel arrays on the roofs of many types of farm outbuildings in addition to the farmhouse itself. Rooftop solar panels on your farm home will give you all the advantages of residential solar power.
Smaller, two- to three-bedroom farmhouses typically get enough power from a 3.5-4kW solar panel installation. Larger farmhouses with four or more bedrooms need around 5kW of solar power.
Farm outbuildings generally provide large roof areas for more powerful, commercial-scale rooftop solar panel installations. These can power a variety of farming facilities and operations.
Ground-Mounted Solar Panels For Farms
Effective Home designs ground-mounted solar panel systems for farms. These enable agrivoltaic farming.
Agrivoltaic farming – agrisolar – makes dual use of land. It generates renewable energy without negatively impacting agricultural operations. Crops grow below ground mounted solar panels and animals graze between them. Ground-mounted solar PV panels are attached to a pole or frame to raise them above the ground to maximise exposure to sunlight.
Unlike most rooftop solar arrays, ground-mounted solar panels for farms require planning permission. Effective Home can help with your planning application.
Solar Power For Farm Vehicles
Electric farm vehicles such as tractors and harvesters are becoming more common as the agricultural sector strives to improve efficiency and sustainability while meeting demand from a larger population. Solar panels can be used to charge these vehicles.
Solar Farms On Agricultural Land
More than 1,300 solar farms are now operating in the UK, according to the latest government figures. Most are on farmland.
Solar farms – also known as solar parks – are large-scale installations of ground-mounted solar panels that can cover anything from one acre to 1,000 acres. They generate electricity for the grid and can also be used to power agricultural operations.
Solar farms are eligible for financial incentives such as power purchase agreements (PPAs), making the purchase more affordable.
Solar Grants And Incentives For Farmers
Tax Cuts
Solar installations are classed as farm plants and machinery so they’re eligible for capital allowances tax exemptions.Smart Export Guarantee
Under the government-backed Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), farmers can earn money from surplus solar energy they generate and route to the grid.Benefits Of Farm Solar Panels
According to insiders, farming looks in a stronger position than most other sectors to withstand ongoing economic pressures.
Installing solar panels presents an opportunity to increase profitability through lower energy costs and creating a further stream of income by selling surplus electricity to the National Grid.
Solar panels also reduce CO2 emissions and can increase farm value, and farmers can get huge grants plus capital allowances tax incentives for solar installations.
Solar panels typically last 20 to 30 years or longer with minimal maintenance so it’s an excellent long term solution for your money-saving and energy needs.
Our Customers Love Us
Trusted and Accredited
Farm Solar Panel FAQs
How much do farm solar panels cost?
The cost of installing farm solar panels varies greatly depending on which options you choose and how much energy you need to generate.
You can expect to pay around:
- £45,000 for a 50kW solar panel system.
- £70,000 for a 100kW system.
- £165,000 for 250kW.
- £300,000 for 500kW.
The most affordable option is installing solar panels solely to power your farmhouse.
Adding solar panel systems for farm outbuildings obviously increases costs, and so does installation of ground-mounted solar panels on your land. However, the more solar installations you have, the more money your farm will save.
The most expensive farm solar option is to turn your land into a solar farm. But once up and running, it can be highly profitable.
Do I need planning permission to install solar panels on my farm?
Planning regulations regard rooftop solar panels on farmhouses and farm outbuildings as a permitted development, so you don’t need to apply for planning permission unless your farm is in a conservation area or you want to put solar panels on a listed building.
You will, however, need planning consent to install ground-mounted solar panels on your land.
