Why soft fruit farms are ideal candidates for solar
Soft fruit growers operate one of the most energy-intensive sectors in UK horticulture. Tabletop strawberry systems, tunnel ventilation, pre-cooling rooms, packhouses and controlled-atmosphere storage all consume electricity at scales more comparable to food manufacturing than traditional farming. Solar is now standard practice for most mid-sized soft fruit operations across Kent, Herefordshire, Angus and Perthshire. The critical energy loads on a soft fruit farm include pre-cooling (typically 2°C within 30 minutes of picking), cold storage, packhouse refrigeration, forced-air fans, irrigation pumping and tunnel ventilation. All of these peak during the summer harvest window - which is also when solar generation is at its maximum. That natural alignment is why soft fruit farms consistently report some of the fastest paybacks in UK agricultural solar, often 3.5-4.5 years. Your packhouse and cold-store roofs are ideal solar surfaces - large, single-span and south-oriented. Typical installation sizes range from 75kW on a small packhouse to 500kW+ on a multi-tunnel farm with integrated packing. Many of our soft fruit clients also integrate PV with their Scope 3 reporting for supermarkets, which has become a near-mandatory requirement for supplying the major multiples. Soft fruit growers should also consider integrating EV charging infrastructure for seasonal worker transport and battery storage for post-harvest evening grading operations. A well-designed system can now deliver 80%+ self-consumption throughout the harvest window.
What a typical soft fruit farms installation looks like
| Typical system size | 75–500 kW |
| Project value | £70k–£450k |
| Simple payback | 4 years |
| FETF grant eligible | Yes (up to 40% capital) |
| MCS certified | All installs |
Benefits for soft fruit farms
- Offset pre-cooling and cold storage peak loads
- Power packhouse refrigeration and grading lines
- Solar-matched summer harvest energy profile
- Support Scope 3 / Tesco 2030 supplier reporting
- Seasonal worker EV charger integration
- Irrigation and fertigation pumping during daylight hours
- Large packhouse roofs enable 100-500kW systems
- Fast 3.5-4.5 year payback with FETF grant support
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 soft fruit farms
Most soft fruit 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 soft fruit 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 soft fruit farms install at a glance
- System size
- 75–500 kW
- Project value
- £70k–£450k
- Simple payback
- 4 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