The new Farming Sustainability Report, written in association with Solar Energy UK, has demonstrated that an increasing number of UK farmers are installing solar systems.
By diversifying their land use, the farmers have stabilised their income stream, as climate change has caused agricultural challenges such as reduced crop yield, loss of livestock, and disruptions to food production.
In 2024, unreliable and poor weather caused issues such as waterlogged land that prevented reseeding.
The report assessed 271 responses from farmers, landowners, and tenant farmers across the UK to establish the challenges they face and how they’ve adapted to them.
It additionally assesses their attitudes towards renewables to improve both their farm’s economic potential and environmental sustainability.
Solar Energy UK Chief Executive Chris Hewett explained the report’s mission in a foreword for Farming Sustainably: “We believe farmers’ perspectives have been largely missing from the recent national debate on farm renewables.”
The findings
The report published its findings, showing:
- 31% of respondents saw below average or very low production in 2024 – due to poor weather.
- 44% currently have below average or very low incomes.
- 60% are not using renewables– indicating a growth opportunity – however, the respondents noted challenges with connecting to the grid and planning restraints.
- 37% of respondents stated that, despite the above, the additional revenue from investing in solar would help secure the farm’s future for later generations.
“Back in 2014, we were really struggling financially and the additional income from the solar was an absolute lifesaver,” the report quotes from a farmer.
“We went from being £400k overdrawn to receiving a £336k uplift. This pretty much saved the future of the farm and allowed me to diversify into letting, property development and a new livestock enterprise housing cattle over the winter.”
Many of the financial struggles noted came from agricultural challenges caused by climate change, with 7 out of 10 respondents citing it as a negative influence.
Taking up solar
In Hewett’s foreword, he continues: “For many who have been able to diversify, solar is helping to keep their farms viable.
“They have more reliable revenue streams keeping their farms profitable whilst securing domestic food supplies. Suffice to say, energy security and food security are not conflicting missions.”
With panel costs becoming more affordable – prices have fallen by 90% over the last decade – the report concludes that installing solar systems is a proven and viable option to secure farmers’ long-term financial stability.
The advice it provides for farmers looking to invest in solar is to:
- Explore government support and incentives.
- Collaborate with the solar sector and neighbours to build larger PV installations (lower cost per watt).
- Investigate the resources available to myth-bust and improve confidence in renewables – such as solar.
With the London edition of Solar & Storage Live only weeks away, don’t forget to register for your free ticket and join us at the London ExCeL from 2-3 April 2025 – or find a Solar & Storage Live event closer to home.
