Solar Panels for Farms & Agricultural Land
Solar & Battery Storage Solutions for Farmland in Suffolk, Norfolk & Cambridgeshire
Solar East Anglia: Helping Farms Achieve Energy Independence for Over 16 Years
At Solar East Anglia, we design and install agricultural solar and battery storage systems for farms across Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire.
Our in-house team, including NICEIC certified electricians and Flexi-Orb accredited installers, has over 16 years of experience delivering large scale roof-mounted solar, ground-mounted solar, and battery storage solutions for farms and landowners.
Our Agricultural Solar Services
Every farm is different, which is why we offer a range of solar solutions to suit your site, energy usage, and available space. Whether you’re looking to make use of roof space, unused land, or want greater control over when you use your power, we’ll find the right combination for your farm.
Roof-mounted Solar
We make use of existing barn, shed, and outbuilding roofs to generate cost-effective solar power on working farms. Roof-mounted solar requires no additional land and takes advantage of structures you already have.
Ground-mounted Solar
For farms with marginal, unproductive, or set-aside farmland, we install ground-mounted solar to generate meaningful income or savings without disrupting core farming activities. Systems can often be sited to allow continued grazing or biodiversity use alongside the panels.
Battery Storage Systems
Battery storage allows you to store the power your solar panels generate during the day and use it when you need it most. We design and install battery storage systems around your energy usage. Whether that’s during peak demand periods like milking times or harvest operations, or overnight when solar generation isn’t available but electricity is at its cheapest to draw from the grid.
Solar Case Study:
Greenwell Farms, Suffolk
Greenwell Farms needed a cost-effective solar energy solution to offset their farm’s rising electricity costs. The solar system had to integrate seamlessly into their operations without affecting productivity.
Our Solution
Solar East Anglia designed and installed a 200 kW solar PV system that met the farm’s energy needs. The installation was completed with minimal disruption to daily operations.
- Roof-mounted solar PV
- 200 kW system size
- £50,000+ annual saving
- 5 year payback period
Solar Solutions for Every Type of Farm
Different farming operations have different energy profiles, and no two sites are quite the same.
We tailor each installation to the specific demands of your business, whether that’s high consistent loads, overnight usage, seasonal peaks, or making the most of unused land.
Arable & Mixed Farms
Arable and mixed farms have large grain stores and machinery and livestock barns with substantial roof areas for roof-mounted solar. Ground-mounted solar on marginal, unproductive, or set-aside land may also be an attractive option for farms with available land.
Dairy Farms
Dairy operations consume significant electricity through milking equipment, vacuum pumps, bulk tank refrigeration, water heating, and parlour lighting. Much of this demand occurs during morning and afternoon milking cycles, overlapping well with solar generation hours.
Poultry Farms
Poultry sheds have high, consistent electricity demand for feeding, lighting programmes, and climate control. South-west-facing poultry shed roofs are ideal mounting locations, helping offset the substantial energy costs these operations create and producing the fastest payback periods.
Horticulture & Glasshouses
Horticultural businesses, including glasshouses, nurseries, and polytunnel operations, have high energy demands for heating, supplementary lighting, and irrigation pumps. Solar PV on adjacent buildings can offset a meaningful share of grid consumption, while the land itself remains productive.
Landowners & Estates
For landowners with unused, marginal, or low-grade agricultural land, ground-mounted solar offers a reliable way to generate long-term value from areas that would otherwise sit idle. Many sites can support dual use, such as sheep grazing or biodiversity schemes.
Get in touch with Solar East Anglia to discuss your farm’s solar requirements
Flexi-Orb Certified Installer
We meet the highest standards for renewable energy installation. Our UKAS accredited Flexi-Orb certification ensures your solar panel & energy storage installations are carried out by qualified professionals, are eligible for export tariffs, and come with excellent consumer protection.
Why Farms Across East Anglia Choose Us
For over 16 years, we’ve worked alongside farmers and landowners across Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire to design and install solar systems that fit their land, buildings, and budget.
As a Flexi-Orb accredited installer with an in-house team, we handle every stage of your project ourselves, from initial site survey through to installation and beyond, so you always know exactly who you’re dealing with and what to expect.
East Anglia's Agricultural Solar Experts
With over 16 years of experience designing and installing solar PV systems for farms across East Anglia, we help landowners achieve maximum profitability and sustainability. We've been in the solar industry right from the start, and our team has extensive experience working with farms to secure their energy independence.
Approved Installers
Solar East Anglia are proud to be Flexi-Orb approved and accredited installers. Flexi-Orb is the first renewables installation scheme to be recognised by the UK Accreditation Service. We believe this underlines our commitment to maintaining the highest standards in the solar industry.
Competitive Pricing
We know the payback period (how long your solar installation takes to recoup its costs) is a vital consideration farmers and landowners. To reduce the payback period for our agricultural clients we regularly check our pricing against our competitors to ensure we are consistently among the best value installers on the market.
5-star Rated
Many of our commercial clients have been kind enough to leave us glowing 5-star reviews. We’re proud to have delivered solar solutions for a wide range of agricultural businesses and farms. Their feedback reflects our focus on tailoring every project to their unique requirements and consistently delivering results.
Ongoing Support
Once your solar PV system is up and running, our support doesn't stop there. Our team is on hand to help with any post-installation queries, performance monitoring and troubleshooting. We also offer maintenance services to keep your system running at its best for years to come, giving you peace of mind long after installation.
Is Solar Right For Your Farm? Get a Solar Assessment Today
Agricultural Solar FAQs
If you’ve got any questions or want to discuss having solar panels installed on your farm, then give us a ring, drop us an email, or fill out our contact form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Will installing solar panels affect farm operations?
We plan our installations carefully to avoid disruption to your farm, and systems are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure.
We only work with your farm during the installation time, allowing us to consistently deliver a high standard of workmanship with little disruption.
Can unused or unproductive land be used for solar panel installation?
Yes. Marginal, unproductive, or set-aside land is an excellent candidate for ground-mounted solar, allowing you to generate meaningful income or savings without affecting your core farming activities.
In many cases, systems can be sited to allow continued grazing or biodiversity use alongside the panels, so the land doesn’t need to sit idle to be productive.
Can solar panels be installed on metal buildings and barns?
In most cases, yes. Metal-roofed barns, sheds, and outbuildings are common on farms and can be well-suited to solar, provided the roof structure is sound.
As with any installation, we’ll carry out a site survey to check the condition and orientation of the roof, and confirm the best mounting approach for the building type before any work begins.
My farm buildings are quite old. Are they suitable for solar panels?
Older buildings can often still be suitable, but it does depend on the condition of the roof and its structure.
During your free site survey, our team will assess whether the building can support a solar installation, and once your system is installed you’ll also receive an engineer’s roof appraisal confirming it can safely take the weight of the panels.
What if my roof isn't suitable for solar panels? Do I have other options?
Yes. If your roof isn’t suitable, whether due to its condition, orientation, or available space, ground-mounted solar on marginal, unproductive, or set-aside land is often a strong alternative.
It requires no roof work at all and can still generate significant savings, with the added benefit that many ground-mounted systems allow continued grazing or biodiversity use alongside the panels.
Will I need planning permission to install solar panels on agricultural land?
For roof-mounted solar panels, this typically falls under permitted development rights, so full planning permission isn’t required. This can be affected by a number of factors such as listed building status, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) status.
For ground-mounted solar this can vary depending on the size and siting of systems, particularly on larger sites.
Our team will advise you on this as part of your free site survey, so you know exactly where you stand before any work begins.
Can solar be added to the electrical systems and machinery I already have on the farm?
Yes. Solar PV and battery storage can be designed to work alongside your existing electrical infrastructure, helping to power equipment like milking machinery, refrigeration, irrigation pumps, or climate control systems directly from the energy you generate.
We’ll assess your current setup and energy usage during the site survey to make sure your system is designed to integrate smoothly with how your farm already runs.
Could installing solar panels affect my farm's insurance?
Yes, it’s worth notifying your insurer once a solar PV system is installed, as it will need to be added to your policy, particularly for larger ground-mounted or roof-mounted systems.
This is generally straightforward, and most insurers are well used to covering agricultural solar installations. We’re happy to provide any documentation your insurer may need, including details of your system and its installation.
Do you handle the whole process, from design through to installation?
Yes. As an in-house team, we manage every stage ourselves, from your initial site survey and system design through to procurement and installation.
You’ll have a single point of contact throughout, so there’s no need to coordinate between separate designers, suppliers, and installers.
What kind of benefits are farms and landowners seeing from solar?
Farms and landowners are increasingly turning to solar to reduce rising electricity costs, generate income from otherwise unproductive land, and gain greater control over their energy use.
With large roof spaces and areas of marginal land, farms are often particularly well suited to solar, and many operations are also using battery storage to make the most of their generation during peak demand periods.
What kind of impact can solar panels have on my farm's profitability?
Solar can have a meaningful impact on profitability by significantly reducing your electricity bills while also protecting your business against future energy price rises.
For commercial and agricultural installations, payback periods are typically between two and five years depending on energy usage patterns, after which the savings go straight to your bottom line. Ground-mounted systems on unused land can also generate additional income alongside these savings.
Still have questions?
Ready to Cut Your Farm's Energy Costs?
Whether you’re exploring roof-mounted solar, ground-mounted systems, or battery storage, our team is here to help you find the right solution for your farm.
Get a Free Solar Assessment
Fill out the form for a free, no-obligation solar assessment and find out how much you could save with a system tailored to your land, buildings, and energy needs.