Hull and East Yorkshire Farm Solar 2026: Cost and Funding

East Yorkshire and the Hull area sit at the heart of some of England’s most productive agricultural land. From the arable plains of the East Riding to the mixed farming operations surrounding the Humber estuary, farms here have high and predictable energy demands — and some of the best conditions in England for generating that energy from the sun.

Agricultural solar adoption across Hull and East Yorkshire has accelerated sharply since 2023. Higher electricity prices have improved the payback on farm solar, but how quickly a system pays back depends on how much of the output the farm uses itself. There is no grant top-up: no grant for solar panels on farms is open in England, and the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) item lists did not include solar panels to power a farm.

Why East Yorkshire Is Ideal for Agricultural Solar

PVGIS estimates about 979 kWh a year per kW of south-facing panels on a 30° roof near Hull — more than further north (about 938 near Middlesbrough). The relatively flat topography of the Vale of York and the East Riding wolds means south-facing roof planes on Dutch barns, grain stores, and livestock buildings are rarely obstructed by shade.

Arable farms across the Holderness plain and the Yorkshire Wolds are particularly well-placed. Large, rectangular barn roofs with consistent pitch and minimal penetrations translate directly into lower installation costs per kilowatt-peak (kWp). A 100kWp system on a grain store near Beverley or Driffield will typically generate between 85,000–90,000 kWh per year.

System Sizes and Costs for East Yorkshire Farms

Installation costs across the Hull and East Yorkshire region have stabilised following the supply chain normalisation of 2024–25. The only official benchmark is the DESNZ Solar PV cost data for 2025/26: a median installed price of about £1,262 per kW for 10–50 kW systems (Great Britain; including VAT where charged; excluding batteries). There is no official series above 50 kW.

Battery storage is increasingly viable alongside solar. A 50–100 kWh battery bank allows East Yorkshire farms to time-shift solar generation into evening peak demand periods, particularly valuable for poultry ventilation systems and refrigeration.

Grants and Funding in 2026

No grant for solar panels on farms is open in England. This is where each route stands for East Yorkshire farms in 2026:

• Improving Farm Productivity grant (England): Round 2 paid up to 25% of eligible costs for panels on farm-building rooftops or irrigation reservoirs (for solar, £15,000 minimum to £100,000 maximum; ground-based arrays excluded). Full applications closed on 31 July 2025 and no further round has been announced.

• Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): SFI has no solar action, and land under a solar array has its own Rural Payments Agency land-use code (UT01), which the RPA lists as a non-agricultural use.

• Smart Export Guarantee (SEG): Systems exporting to the grid receive payment per unit exported from energy suppliers including Octopus, EDF, and E.ON.

Farm Types Across Hull & East Yorkshire

Arable Farms — East Riding and Holderness

The East Riding is predominantly arable country. Wheat, barley, oilseed rape, and sugar beet dominate the rotation. Solar demand peaks during harvest (August–September), when drying and storage systems run continuously. A well-sized system on a grain drier building can offset part of this seasonal electricity bill.

Poultry Units — Beverley, Driffield, and Pocklington Areas

Free-range and broiler units across East Yorkshire carry very high electricity loads — ventilation fans, lighting, heating, and welfare systems running 24/7. These operations often justify 100–400kWp systems with battery storage; how quickly they pay back depends on how much of the output the farm uses itself.

Dairy Farms — Vale of York Fringe and Wolds

Dairy farms face some of the highest per-litre energy costs in UK agriculture. Bulk milk cooling, vacuum pumps, and hot water heating all benefit directly from solar generation, with consumption patterns aligning well with morning and afternoon generation peaks.

Choosing an installer in Hull & East Yorkshire

This site is an independent guide published by SEO Dons Ltd and names no installer. Whoever you shortlist for a farm in Hull & East Yorkshire: check them on the MCS register, ask for two farm references you can call, ask how they handle biosecurity and roof structure, and compare itemised written quotes against the DESNZ median of £1,262 per kW for 10–50 kW systems. Our guide to choosing a farm solar installer lists the twelve questions to ask.

Planning Permission for Farm Solar in East Yorkshire

Most roof-mounted agricultural solar installations in the East Riding of Yorkshire fall within permitted development rights under Class J of Part 14 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015. This means no formal planning application is required for roof-mounted systems on existing agricultural buildings, provided the panels do not protrude more than 200mm beyond the plane of a pitched roof and sit at least 1m from the roof edge; above 50 kW, the council’s prior approval on design and glare is needed.

Ground-mounted systems are not covered by Class J and normally require a full planning application (the council’s target is 8 weeks for a site under 1 hectare and 13 weeks for a site of 1 hectare or more); see solar farm costs, output and planning per acre. For roof-mounted systems that rely on permitted development, it is always advisable to obtain a Lawful Development Certificate from East Riding of Yorkshire Council or Hull City Council before proceeding.

Conservation area and listed building restrictions apply across parts of the Yorkshire Wolds and some historic farmstead complexes. An experienced local installer will identify any relevant constraints during the initial survey.

Next Steps for Hull and East Yorkshire Farmers

The most productive first step is a professional roof and energy assessment. A qualified surveyor will measure available roof area, assess structural condition, calculate current and projected energy demands, and produce a detailed return on investment model tailored to your farm.

With electricity prices forecast to remain elevated through 2026–2028, the economics of agricultural solar in East Yorkshire have never been more compelling.

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Related guides

• Farm solar in Yorkshire — local DNO, planning notes and typical system sizes for your county.
• Our agricultural solar installation service
• What farm solar actually costs by system size
• The 8-stage farm solar installation process