Solar Energy Scotland, a UK-based solar industry body, has issued a statement in favour of agrivoltaic solar farms.
The statement comes as agrivoltaics faces backlash from UK politicians and citizens alike, due to an expectation that agrivoltaics threatens the Kingdom’s food security. Solar Energy Scotland has released its statement ahead of the Scottish Government’s Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan announcements.
In its statement, the organisation stresses that climate change is a bigger threat to food security than agrivoltaics – an unavoidable consequence if countries don’t adopt renewable energy.
Additionally, only 0.05% of Scottish land is required for the developments. This is less than 1/5 of the Scottish land currently used by golf courses and is also less than land in use by various airports.
A 50GW by 2030 target has been set by the UK government for new solar capacity across the nation, with Scotland taking 4.6GW of the share. Estimates shared by Solar Energy Scotland demonstrate an expectation of 3.5GW coming from ground-mounted solar.
Josh King, Chair of Solar Energy Scotland, adds: “Farming businesses are under intense economic pressure. Solar developments are a key part of the solution, reducing our impact on the climate while providing important diversification opportunities for farmers.
“Farming also has energy needs, like any industry, and we know of many farmers who see the opportunity to cut their costs and their emissions at the same time… Solar is a flexible part of the solution, supporting economic and food security and creating a positive legacy of enhanced soil and biodiversity.”
Encouraging agrivoltaics
Solar Energy UK has also repeatedly come out in favour of agrivoltaics, as has the UK’s new Labour government. Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK previously addressed concerns around food security:
“They [solar farms] pose no threat to food security; in fact, they support it. According to Defra, climate change is the main threat to food security, and solar farms help combat this.
“Without solar farms, many traditional farming businesses would struggle to survive, as they rely on the steady income solar farms provide.”
Recently, the National Farmer’s Union of Scotland (NFUS) signed an agreement with Iqony Solar Energy Solutions (SENS) to provide up to 40 years of competitive market rent to landowners who allow solar and storage development.
Tom Bradshaw, NFU President, concludes:
“Solar farms offer an attractive diversification income opportunity for farmers when we strike the right balance between food security and climate ambitions.
“National planning guidance and NFU policy both express a preference for large-scale solar farm development to be located as far as possible on lower quality agricultural land, avoiding the most productive and versatile soils.”
