Hull & East Yorkshire Farm Solar 2026 — Cost & FETF Guide

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. Electricity prices that once made payback calculations borderline now deliver 6–8 year returns even without government grants. With the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) top-up available, many East Yorkshire farms are achieving payback inside five years.

Why East Yorkshire Is Ideal for Agricultural Solar

East Yorkshire receives around 1,500–1,600 kWh of solar irradiance per square metre annually — comparable to the East Midlands and meaningfully better than northern counties like Cumbria or Durham. 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 — enough to power the entire harvest operation and export surplus to the grid.

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. Benchmark pricing for MCS-certified agricultural systems currently sits at:

• 30kWp system — £22,000–£28,000 installed (suitable for smaller livestock units or farm offices)

• 50kWp system — £34,000–£42,000 installed (typical for mixed farms with 200–400 acre operations)

• 100kWp system — £58,000–£72,000 installed (grain stores, poultry units, dairy farms)

• 250kWp+ system — £130,000+ (large arable estates, free-range poultry, pig units)

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 Available in 2026

East Yorkshire farms can access several funding routes for agricultural solar in 2026:

• FETF Round 3: Covers up to 40% of eligible costs. All registered farming businesses in England qualify, including tenanted farms with landlord consent. Applications typically open in February.

• Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): The renewable energy add-on provides annual payments per hectare for land incorporating agricultural solar arrays.

• Yorkshire and Humber LNRS funding: Some Local Nature Recovery Strategy programmes include renewable energy components for farms demonstrating biodiversity co-benefits.

• 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 eliminate this seasonal electricity bill entirely.

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, achieving payback inside 6 years even before grant support.

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.

Recommended Solar Installer for Hull & East Yorkshire

For agricultural solar installation across Hull, East Yorkshire, and the wider East Riding, we recommend YEERS. As a specialist renewable energy company with strong regional coverage across Humberside and East Yorkshire, YEERS brings deep knowledge of local agricultural operations, DNO grid connection requirements for the Northern Powergrid area, and the specific planning considerations affecting farm buildings across the East Riding of Yorkshire.

YEERS are MCS certified and experienced with the full range of agricultural solar applications — from roof-mounted systems on existing grain stores and livestock buildings to ground-mounted arrays on marginal land. Their team understands the practical realities of farming operations, scheduling installations to avoid disruption during key periods such as harvest and lambing.

Visit yeers.co.uk for a free agricultural solar assessment covering your farm buildings, energy usage, and available grants.

Planning Permission for Farm Solar in East Yorkshire

Most agricultural solar installations in the East Riding of Yorkshire fall within permitted development rights under Class A of Part 6 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 installation does not protrude more than 200mm beyond the roof plane.

Ground-mounted systems over 1MW require a full planning application. Systems under this threshold in most East Riding locations proceed as permitted development, though 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. Early movers in the current FETF funding round will secure the most favourable grant rates and equipment pricing.

---

Ready to get a quote for your farm? Request a free feasibility study →