ADAS say solar energy parks are a ‘win, win’ for farmers

The environmental consultancy ADAS has teamed up with international solar photovoltaic (PV) experts Enfinity to begin installing what will be the UK’s biggest solar energy parks.  These installations will provide a real opportunity for farmers and land owners to secure a 25 year revenue stream. 

ADAS’ role is to identify suitable sites for solar power to be installed. Focussing initially in Southern England and South Wales, suitable sites need to be flat, have good electricity connectivity and minimal visual impact. Over the last six months the project has identified 12 potential sites in these regions that would be suitable for solar park development, offering landowners a 25 year land lease agreement that will provide them with a long term revenue stream.

The planning permission process has already started on four of the sites and ADAS hope to develop a further 50MW of solar parks next year. This seems all the more plausible given the results of our recent survey which reported that 80% of farmers want PV on their roofs in the next three years.

Jon Abbatt, principal consultant at ADAS who is leading the project, says “At a time when all sectors of the UK economy are ‘tightening belts’ after the global banking crisis such projects offer farmers, land owners and land managers a new and interesting way of creating a reliable revenue stream, creating emission free electricity – and one which saves them money and reduces carbon at the same time.  It’s a ‘win, win’ provided they are developed in a sensitive manner at appropriate sites.”

Field PV systems offer the greatest return from solar panels because they can spread across large areas and are not constrained by roof space. There has been some negative press recently about the size and scope of field based PV systems so ADAS are also working with farmers on roof based PV systems for agricultural buildings, grain stores, poultry sheds and cattle stores that can be converted into sustainable solar hubs which relative ease.

For further information on ADAS visit http://aplus.adas.co.uk/.

For more information on solar technology and how it fits with farming, take a look at our solar fact sheet.