Why Install Solar Panels on a Farm?

 

Agricultural businesses can consume significant quantities of electricity.

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Modern farming increasingly relies upon electrical equipment, automated systems, refrigeration and environmental controls.

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Solar panels can generate electricity directly on the property, reducing the amount that needs to be purchased from an energy supplier.

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Potential benefits include:

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• reducing farm electricity costs

• making productive use of barn and agricultural roofs

• protecting against future energy-price increases

• generating renewable electricity on site

• supporting battery storage

• providing electricity for electric machinery and vehicles

• creating additional value from suitable agricultural land

• reducing the carbon intensity of farm operations.

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The suitability of solar will depend upon the individual farm, its electricity use, available roof or land area and the electrical infrastructure serving the property.

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Farm Solar Panels

 

Farm solar panels work in the same way as other photovoltaic installations.

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Solar panels convert daylight into direct-current electricity. An inverter then converts this into alternating-current electricity that can be used by equipment on the farm.

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Electricity generated by the panels will normally be used within the agricultural business first.

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Where solar generation is lower than demand, additional electricity continues to come from the grid.

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Where the system generates more electricity than the farm is using, surplus energy may potentially be exported or stored within batteries.

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For farms with substantial daytime electricity consumption, a large proportion of the electricity generated may be used directly on site.

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Solar Panels on Agricultural Buildings

 

Agricultural buildings can provide excellent locations for photovoltaic panels.

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Large barns, livestock buildings, machinery stores and grain stores frequently have extensive roof areas with relatively few obstructions.

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Solar panels can potentially be installed on:

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• barns

• dairy buildings

• poultry buildings

• grain stores

• workshops

• machinery sheds

• packhouses

• refrigerated stores

• farm offices

• equestrian buildings.

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The roof should be assessed before designing the installation.

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Its construction, condition, orientation and structural capacity all need to be considered.

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Solar Panels for Dairy Farms

 

Dairy farming can be particularly suitable for solar because electricity consumption can be substantial and relatively predictable.

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Electrical demand may come from:

milking equipment, milk cooling, water heating, ventilation, pumps and cleaning systems.

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Some of this consumption occurs during daylight hours, allowing electricity generated by the solar panels to be used directly.

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Battery storage may also be considered where peak electricity consumption occurs outside the strongest solar-generating periods.

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The system should therefore be designed around the farm's actual electricity profile.

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Solar Panels for Poultry Farms

 

Poultry farms can also consume significant amounts of electricity.

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Ventilation, heating controls, lighting, feeding systems and other equipment may operate for long periods.

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Large poultry buildings can provide extensive roof space suitable for photovoltaic arrays.

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Because ventilation and cooling requirements may increase during warm sunny weather, there can sometimes be a useful relationship between solar generation and electricity demand.

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A detailed energy assessment can establish an appropriate system size.

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Solar Panels for Agricultural Cold Storage

 

Refrigeration can represent a major electrical load for farms storing milk, fruit, vegetables and other temperature-sensitive products.

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Solar power can be particularly valuable where refrigeration operates continuously throughout the daytime.

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Sunny weather may also increase cooling demand at the same time that photovoltaic generation is strongest.

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A well-sized solar system can therefore contribute directly towards the electricity required for refrigeration.

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Solar Panels for Farm Workshops

 

Farm workshops may operate compressors, welders, machinery, lighting and other electrically powered equipment.

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Where workshops are in regular daytime use, solar-generated electricity can contribute directly towards this demand.

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Workshop roofs can also provide additional space for panels where the main agricultural buildings are unsuitable.

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Solar Panels on Barn Roofs

 

Barn roofs are frequently considered for agricultural solar installations because of their size.

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Modern agricultural buildings commonly use profiled steel or composite roof panels that can accommodate proprietary photovoltaic mounting systems.

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However, the age and condition of the roof need careful consideration.

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Installing a solar array onto a roof that will need replacing within a few years can create unnecessary future costs because the panels may have to be removed and reinstalled.

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Where significant roof repairs are anticipated, it can make sense to coordinate the roofing and solar projects.

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Structural Assessment of Farm Roofs

 

Agricultural buildings vary greatly in age and construction.

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Before installing a large solar array, the roof structure should be assessed to determine whether it is suitable.

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The additional loading includes more than simply the weight of the solar panels.

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The design may need to consider:

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panels, mounting equipment, wind loading, snow loading and forces transferred through the fixing system.

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Older lightweight agricultural structures may require more detailed structural consideration.

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A suitable mounting arrangement should transfer loads safely back into the building structure.

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Farm Solar System Design

 

The best solar system is not necessarily the one containing the greatest possible number of panels.

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The design should begin with understanding how the farm consumes electricity.

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Historic electricity bills provide a useful starting point.

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More detailed usage information can show when electricity is being consumed throughout the day and year.

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This can then be compared with predicted solar generation.

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A dairy farm, refrigerated agricultural store and grain-processing facility may each require completely different solar designs even if their roofs are similar in size.

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How Many Solar Panels Does a Farm Need?

 

There is no standard number.

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A small agricultural business may only require a modest installation, while a large farming enterprise could potentially accommodate hundreds or thousands of panels.

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System size will depend upon:

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available roof area, land availability, electricity consumption, panel capacity, shading, roof orientation and the amount of electricity that can be used or exported.

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The objective should be to create a system that works economically for the agricultural business rather than simply maximising panel numbers.

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Ground-Mounted Solar Panels for Farms

 

Not every farm needs to rely upon roof-mounted solar.

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Where sufficient suitable land is available, ground-mounted solar panels may provide another option.

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Ground-mounted systems can be positioned at an appropriate angle and orientation without being constrained by the shape of an existing building.

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They can range from relatively small arrays supplying electricity directly to the farm through to much larger commercial solar farms.

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Factors to consider include:

land use, access, topography, shading, electrical connection, visual impact and planning requirements.

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Land for a Solar Farm

 

Owners with suitable land for a solar farm may consider whether part of the holding could be used for large-scale solar generation.

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Not every piece of agricultural land will be suitable.

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Solar developers may consider factors including the size and shape of the site, access, land quality, topography and proximity to electrical infrastructure.

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Grid connection can be particularly important because large installations may generate significant quantities of electricity that need to be exported.

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Planning, landscape impact, ecology, drainage and other site constraints may also influence whether a site is suitable.

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What Is a Solar Farm?

 

A solar farm is a large ground-mounted photovoltaic installation containing multiple rows of solar panels.

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Unlike rooftop systems primarily intended to serve an individual building, a solar farm can function more like a small solar power plant, producing electricity on a commercial scale.

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The electricity may be supplied to a nearby business, exported through the electricity network or potentially combined with large-scale battery storage.

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Solar farms can range considerably in size, from relatively modest agricultural installations to very large developments covering substantial areas of land.

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Solar Power Plant Development

 

A large photovoltaic development may effectively operate as a solar power plant.

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The project involves much more than installing rows of panels.

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Infrastructure can include:

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photovoltaic modules, mounting structures, inverters, transformers, electrical substations, cabling, access tracks, security equipment and grid-connection infrastructure.

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Battery storage may also form part of the project.

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Because of this complexity, large-scale solar normally involves specialist design and development teams.

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Solar Farm Installation

 

A solar farm installation generally begins with a detailed assessment of the proposed site.

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The developer needs to determine whether the land is physically, commercially and technically suitable.

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This can involve investigation of:

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land area, solar exposure, ground conditions, access, planning constraints, environmental considerations and grid connection.

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The solar array can then be designed around these findings.

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Larger projects may require extensive consultation and technical reports before construction can begin.

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Solar Farm Installation Companies

 

Specialist solar farm installation companies normally undertake projects significantly larger than domestic or small commercial solar installations.

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Their role can extend beyond panel installation.

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Depending upon the project, they may coordinate:

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site surveys, solar design, electrical engineering, groundworks, mounting systems, substations, grid connection, construction management and commissioning.

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Large agricultural solar projects should therefore be assessed by contractors or developers with appropriate commercial and utility-scale solar experience.

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Solar Farm Companies

 

Different solar farm companies operate under different commercial models.

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Some companies design and construct solar farms for landowners who intend to own the completed installation.

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Others may seek to lease suitable agricultural land and develop, finance and operate the solar farm themselves.

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There can therefore be a significant distinction between:

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buying your own solar installation and leasing land to a solar developer.

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Landowners should understand exactly what is being proposed before entering into a long-term arrangement.

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Professional legal, financial and property advice may be appropriate for significant land agreements.

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Solar Farm Companies Near Me

 

Searching for solar farm companies near me can produce a wide range of businesses, from commercial solar installers to specialist energy developers.

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The appropriate company will depend upon the scale of the project.

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A farmer wanting several hundred panels on agricultural buildings may require an experienced commercial solar installer.

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A landowner considering a multi-acre solar development may instead need a company specialising in land acquisition, planning, grid connections and utility-scale solar development.

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Relevant experience is therefore more important than simply choosing the nearest installer.

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Solar Panel Farms Near Me

 

People searching for solar panel farms near me may already have seen large photovoltaic developments appearing on agricultural land.

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The suitability of a neighbouring solar farm does not automatically mean another nearby site will also be suitable.

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Two neighbouring farms can face completely different constraints depending upon landscape designations, access, grid capacity and the relationship with surrounding properties.

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Each site therefore needs to be considered individually.

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How Much Does a Solar Farm Cost?

 

Solar farm cost varies enormously according to the size and complexity of the installation.

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A small ground-mounted agricultural array and a major commercial solar farm are fundamentally different projects.

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Cost can be influenced by:

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• number and specification of solar panels

• mounting system

• groundworks

• inverters and transformers

• cabling

• access roads

• security

• grid connection

• planning and professional fees

• drainage or landscaping works

• battery storage.

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For large projects, grid-connection requirements can have a substantial influence on overall viability.

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Solar Panel Farm Cost

 

Looking at solar panel farm cost purely on the basis of the number of photovoltaic modules can be misleading.

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The panels represent only one part of the development.

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Site preparation, electrical infrastructure and network connection can represent substantial additional costs.

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The project should therefore be assessed using its complete development and operating costs alongside anticipated electricity generation and revenue.

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Solar Farm Cost Versus Rooftop Solar

 

For many working farms, using existing agricultural roofs can be the simplest starting point.

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The land already has another productive purpose and much of the basic infrastructure is already available.

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Ground-mounted solar introduces additional considerations, particularly land use, planning and site development.

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However, ground-mounted arrays have the advantage that their orientation, spacing and angle can be optimised more freely.

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The right solution may involve roof-mounted solar, ground-mounted panels or a combination of both.

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Solar Panels and Farm Battery Storage

 

Battery storage can be particularly useful where farm electricity demand continues outside daylight hours.

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Solar electricity generated during the daytime can potentially be stored for use later.

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This may benefit businesses operating:

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refrigeration, ventilation, security systems, automated equipment or other continuous loads.

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However, battery storage is not automatically necessary.

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If the farm already consumes virtually all the solar electricity while it is being generated, relatively little surplus may remain to charge a battery.

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The battery system should therefore be assessed against actual energy consumption.

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Solar Panels and Irrigation

 

Irrigation systems can create substantial electrical demand, particularly during the summer.

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This can work well with photovoltaic generation because irrigation demand may increase during the same bright weather conditions that produce strong solar output.

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Pumps powered partly from on-site solar generation can reduce grid electricity consumption.

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The potential benefit will depend upon the timing and size of the pumping loads.

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Solar Panels and Grain Drying

 

Grain drying and processing can require substantial amounts of energy.

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Solar electricity may contribute towards electrically powered fans, conveyors and associated processing equipment.

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Because agricultural energy use can be seasonal, system designers should consider annual consumption rather than simply assessing a single month.

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Surplus solar generation outside peak farming periods may potentially be exported or used elsewhere on the site.

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Solar Panels for Farm EV Charging

 

Agricultural vehicles and machinery are gradually becoming more electrified.

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Electric utility vehicles, vans, cars and some specialist machinery can potentially be charged using electricity generated on the farm.

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A larger solar system may therefore be designed with future electrical demand in mind rather than being based entirely upon today's energy consumption.

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This can be particularly relevant where the business expects to introduce more electric equipment over the coming years.

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Solar Carports on Farms

 

Farmyards and agricultural businesses can sometimes provide opportunities for solar canopies or carports.

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Photovoltaic panels are installed over parking or operational areas, producing electricity while providing shelter beneath.

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Solar canopies may also incorporate EV charging.

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They can be useful where suitable roof space is limited but substantial hardstanding or parking areas are available.

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Planning Permission for Farm Solar Panels

 

Planning requirements depend upon the type, scale and location of the proposed installation.

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Roof-mounted solar panels on agricultural buildings may be treated differently from substantial ground-mounted developments.

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Larger solar farms can involve considerably more detailed planning considerations.

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Potential issues can include:

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visual impact, landscape character, neighbouring properties, highways, ecology, drainage and agricultural land use.

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The planning position should therefore be established early, particularly where a substantial ground-mounted installation is being considered.

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Solar Glare from Farm Solar Panels

 

Large photovoltaic installations may occasionally require consideration of solar glare.

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Solar panels are designed to absorb rather than reflect sunlight, but some reflection is inevitable.

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For agricultural solar developments, potential receptors might include neighbouring homes, roads or other sensitive locations.

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Where there is a particular concern, glare modelling can assess whether reflected sunlight is likely to create an issue.

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Panel orientation and angle can sometimes be adjusted during the design stage if necessary.

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Solar Farms and Agricultural Land Use

 

Installing solar panels does not necessarily mean that agricultural activity must cease across an entire site.

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Some solar farms may allow continued management of the land beneath and around the panels.

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This can include grazing or other appropriate land-management arrangements depending upon the design and site conditions.

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The relationship between energy production and agricultural use should therefore be considered as part of the overall development strategy.

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Maintaining Farm Solar Panels

 

Modern photovoltaic installations generally require relatively little routine maintenance.

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However, agricultural environments can expose panels to additional dust, dirt and debris.

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Monitoring equipment should identify unexpected reductions in performance.

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Maintenance arrangements may include inspection of:

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panels, mounting systems, electrical connections, inverters and monitoring equipment.

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Ground-mounted installations also require appropriate management of vegetation surrounding and beneath the panels.

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Choosing a Solar Installer for a Farm

 

Agricultural solar can range from a small barn installation to a major ground-mounted energy project.

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The installer should therefore have experience appropriate to the proposed scale.

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For larger farm systems, the contractor should understand:

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commercial electrical systems, agricultural roofing, structural requirements, energy-consumption analysis and grid connections.

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Businesses considering larger ground-mounted arrays should look for companies with specific experience in solar farm installation.

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Is Solar Worth It for a Farm?

 

For many agricultural businesses, solar can be an excellent fit.

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Large roofs provide the potential generating area while refrigeration, machinery, pumps and other equipment create a demand for the electricity produced.

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The strongest opportunities tend to combine:

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suitable roof or land area, good solar exposure and meaningful electricity consumption.

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However, each agricultural business operates differently.

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The financial case should therefore be based upon realistic estimates of solar generation, electricity consumption, installation costs and the proportion of electricity that can be used directly.

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Planning Solar Panels for Your Farm?

 

Whether you are considering a modest array on a barn roof or investigating land for a solar farm, the project should begin with an assessment of the property and its energy requirements.

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Available roof area, structural condition, agricultural land, electricity consumption, electrical infrastructure, planning considerations and grid connection can all influence the type and size of system that is appropriate.

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APN Solar can help farmers, agricultural businesses and landowners connect with experienced solar farm companies and commercial solar installers able to assess the site and provide proposals for an appropriately designed farm solar installation.

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