Why mixed farms are ideal candidates for solar
Mixed farming represents the backbone of British agriculture – the diversified operations that combine crops and livestock, adapting to market conditions and spreading risk across multiple enterprises. As a mixed farmer, you understand better than most the complexity of managing diverse energy needs across different aspects of your operation. Your energy demands are as varied as your farming activities. Grain storage and drying facilities for your arable crops, milking equipment and cooling systems for your dairy herd, climate control for livestock housing, irrigation systems for crops, and workshop facilities for maintaining the diverse machinery that keeps everything running. Each enterprise has its own energy profile, its own peak demands, and its own critical systems that can’t afford to fail. The challenge of mixed farming is that you’re essentially running multiple businesses under one roof, each with different seasonal energy patterns. Your grain drying might peak in autumn, your dairy cooling runs year-round, your irrigation systems work hardest in summer, and your livestock heating demands spike in winter. Traditional energy supply can’t adapt to these varied needs – but solar can. Mixed farms often have the ideal infrastructure for solar installations. Multiple buildings of different sizes and orientations, from large grain stores to livestock barns, from dairy parlours to equipment sheds. This diversity of structures provides opportunities to design solar systems that maximize energy generation while working with your existing farm layout. The beauty of solar for mixed farms is its flexibility. We can design systems that prioritize power for your most critical operations while providing backup for secondary systems. Battery storage can help balance the varied energy demands across your different enterprises, storing excess power generated during peak solar hours for use when and where you need it most. Many mixed farmers find that solar not only reduces their operational costs but also provides a stabilizing income stream through energy export. This additional revenue source can help balance the natural fluctuations in agricultural markets, providing financial stability that complements your diversified farming approach.
What a typical mixed farms installation looks like
| Typical system size | 30–250 kW |
| Project value | £28k–£220k |
| Simple payback | 5 years |
| FETF grant eligible | Yes (up to 40% capital) |
| MCS certified | All installs |
Benefits for mixed farms
- Flexible power solutions for diverse farming operations
- Support for multiple enterprises from crops to livestock
- Reduced overall energy costs across all farm activities
- Utilization of varied building types and orientations
- Sustainable farming practices across all enterprises
- Additional income stream through energy export
- Improved financial stability and risk management
- Enhanced farm resilience and self-sufficiency
Grants and finance
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) is the primary capital grant route for agricultural solar in England, covering up to 40% of installation cost on eligible systems. Welsh Government Farm Business Grant, Scottish CARES loans, and Northern Ireland’s Farm Energy Efficiency Scheme are equivalent routes in the devolved nations. Capital allowances let you write down 100% of the residual investment against profits in year one under the Annual Investment Allowance (£1m cap).
For zero-upfront installs, we offer Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) finance where you pay only for the electricity generated at a rate well below your current grid tariff. Asset finance arrangements over 5–10 years are also widely available for farms with strong cash flow.
Compliance and structural points specific to mixed farms
Most mixed farms solar projects use permitted development rights under Class A or Class B of Schedule 2 of the GPDO, provided the system is below 1 MW and on existing agricultural buildings. Listed buildings, conservation areas, AONBs and National Parks require full planning. We handle every application — typical determination 6–8 weeks.
Structural surveys check purlin spacing, rafter capacity and roof sheet condition before any install. Asbestos cement roofing — still common on older sheds — is replaced as part of the project (licensed removal included). Three-phase supply upgrades are handled with the local DNO (UKPN, NGED, SSEN, SP Energy Networks or Northern Powergrid).
Get a quote for solar on your mixed farm
Free desk-based feasibility from your half-hourly meter data. Fixed-price proposal within 7 working days. We cover England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from regional installation hubs.
Typical mixed farms install at a glance
- System size
- 30–250 kW
- Project value
- £28k–£220k
- Simple payback
- 5 years
- Grants
- FETF / Welsh FBG / Scottish CARES eligible
Common questions
How much do solar panels for a farm cost in the UK?
Dairy and livestock parlour installs (30–250 kW): £32,000–£225,000. Arable rooftop installs (50–500 kW): £45,000–£500,000. Ground-mount agrivoltaic schemes (500 kW–10 MW): £350,000–£8m+. Cost per kW is typically £750–£1,000 for rooftop above 100 kW, £600–£800/kW for ground-mount above 500 kW.
What's the payback for a dairy farm solar install?
5–6 years. Dairy farms have outstanding self-consumption (24/7 milk cooling, parlour pumps, lighting) — often 90%+ of generation is consumed on site. Combined with 100% AIA tax relief, dairy installs sit alongside cold-chain warehouses as the fastest-payback segment in UK commercial solar.
Can we install solar on asbestos cement farm roofs?
No — asbestos cement roofs must be replaced first. The most common solution is a combined re-roof + PV install where the PV business case partially funds the re-roof. CAR 2012 governs asbestos handling — only licensed contractors can remove asbestos cement. Most modern installs sit on profiled steel re-clads.
What about agrivoltaics — solar above crops or grazing?
Agrivoltaics is emerging quickly in the UK. Sheep grazing under elevated panels is well-established. Crops (typically shade-tolerant: leafy greens, soft fruit, hops) under translucent panels is showing promising trial results. Defra and NFU are engaged. SFI 2025 is expected to add specific agrivoltaic compatibility actions.
What grants are available for farm solar?
100% AIA tax relief is universal. SFI actions support agrivoltaic schemes and biodiversity-stacked installs. Farming Investment Fund occasionally relevant. Welsh and Scottish farms have their own devolved schemes with often-higher intervention rates. SEG provides ongoing export income.
Do tenant farmers need landlord consent?
Yes — for any structural alteration to buildings or land use change. Most institutional landlords (Crown Estate, Church Commissioners, Wellcome Trust, county councils) have standard tenant-PV addenda. Private landlords vary. We provide the lease addendum template. Some landlords prefer to fund directly with a service-charge recovery from the tenant.
Related pillar pages
- • Farm solar pricing 2026 — by system size
- • How much do solar panels cost on a farm? Full breakdown
- • UK farm solar grants 2026 — FETF, FBG, CARES, DAERA
- • 2026 grant application calendar
- • Finance options — capex, asset finance, PPA
- • How to choose an agricultural solar installer
- • Farm solar maintenance after installation
- • Farm solar glossary A–Z
- • Real installation case studies