A UK farm solar installation in 2026 typically costs £600–£900 per kWp installed, with the unit price falling as system size increases. Smaller 20kW barn-roof systems sit at the upper end of that range; larger 200kW+ multi-building installs come in toward the lower end thanks to economies of scale on labour, scaffold, and grid connection.
After the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) grant covering up to 40% of capital cost, and 100% first-year Annual Investment Allowance writing the residual down against profits, the net out-of-pocket cost typically falls to £360–£540 per kWp. With current electricity tariffs averaging 25–32p/kWh for rural three-phase commercial supplies, the typical UK farm now achieves simple payback in 1.6–2.6 years on solar PV alone.
Farm solar costs by system size
| System | Gross cost | After FETF + AIA | Annual kWh | Annual saving | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20kW | £14,000–£18,000 | £8,400–£10,800 | 17,500 | £4,200 | 2.0–2.6 yr |
| 50kW | £32,000–£40,000 | £19,200–£24,000 | 43,000 | £10,500 | 1.8–2.3 yr |
| 100kW | £60,000–£75,000 | £36,000–£45,000 | 88,000 | £21,500 | 1.7–2.1 yr |
| 200kW | £115,000–£140,000 | £69,000–£84,000 | 178,000 | £44,000 | 1.6–1.9 yr |
| 500kW | £270,000–£330,000 | £162,000–£198,000 | 450,000 | £112,000 | 1.5–1.8 yr |
Figures assume south-facing 30° roof, no major reinforcement required, typical UK irradiance (950–1,100 kWh/kWp), 70% self-consumption, 30p/kWh grid tariff, FETF grant at 40% capital. Real economics vary by location and farm type — request a free desk feasibility for specifics.
What's included in every quote
- ✓ Half-hourly meter data analysis (export limitation modelling, self-consumption forecast)
- ✓ Structural roof survey or ground-mount geotech
- ✓ MCS-certified panels (Tier 1), inverters and isolators
- ✓ Complete installation, scaffold, commissioning
- ✓ G99 grid connection application managed end-to-end
- ✓ FETF / SFI / Welsh FBG / Scottish CARES grant paperwork
- ✓ MCS certificate, EPC update, SEG registration
- ✓ 25-year panel performance warranty, 10-year inverter cover, 5-year workmanship
- ✓ Monitoring dashboard with mobile access
Three ways to pay
Capital purchase
Pay up front, claim 100% AIA in year one, retain all generation. Best for farms with strong cash position or capital allowance headroom. Fastest absolute payback.
Asset finance
£0 deposit, 5–10 year fixed-rate finance against the system. Repayments structured to be lower than your projected energy savings — cash-flow positive from month one.
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
Zero capital, zero risk. We finance, install and maintain the system; you pay a discounted unit rate for the electricity it generates over 15–25 years. Off-balance-sheet.
Adding battery storage — what it costs on top
Battery storage materially improves self-consumption on most farms — particularly dairy and poultry where peak loads sit outside the midday solar window. Typical pricing for a LiFePO4 battery alongside solar:
| Battery size | Cost | After AIA | Extra annual saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 kWh | £8,500–£11,000 | £6,400–£8,250 | £1,800–£2,400 |
| 30 kWh | £15,000–£19,000 | £11,250–£14,250 | £3,600–£4,800 |
| 60 kWh | £25,000–£32,000 | £18,750–£24,000 | £6,800–£9,200 |
| 120 kWh | £45,000–£58,000 | £33,750–£43,500 | £13,500–£18,000 |
| 250 kWh+ | £85,000+ | £63,750+ | £28,000+ |
Additional costs that aren't always in the headline
Most farm solar quotes include scaffold, install, panels, inverters, isolators and commissioning. Items that occasionally sit outside the headline figure:
- Asbestos cement roof removal — £20–£40 per m² licensed removal + replacement sheet. Around 18% of UK farm barn roofs are still asbestos cement.
- Three-phase supply upgrade — £3,000–£15,000 depending on DNO works required. Smaller dairy farms often still have single-phase supplies inadequate for 50kW+ systems.
- DNO grid reinforcement contributions — £2,000–£25,000 where local capacity is constrained. NGED and Northern Powergrid quote these case-by-case.
- Planning application fees — £462 for prior notification, £1,200+ for full planning. Usually applies only outside permitted development.
- Structural reinforcement — £4,000–£18,000 where older steel-frame buildings need purlin or rafter upgrades to take the panel weight.
- Ground conditions for ground-mount — £8,000–£25,000 for screw piling on rocky or boggy terrain (Levels, Mendips, upland sites).
Price by farm type — typical project mix
| Farm type | Typical sys size | Gross cost | Net (post-FETF + AIA) | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy farm 150-300 head | 65–150 kWp | £45k–£105k | £24k–£56k | 1.8–2.4 yr |
| Arable farm 400-1,200 ac | 50–200 kWp | £35k–£140k | £19k–£75k | 2.0–2.6 yr |
| Free-range poultry 16k bird | 80–150 kWp | £55k–£105k | £29k–£56k | 1.5–1.9 yr |
| Mixed farm 200-500 ac | 30–75 kWp | £21k–£53k | £11k–£28k | 1.7–2.2 yr |
| Soft fruit + packhouse | 100–300 kWp | £70k–£200k | £37k–£107k | 1.6–2.0 yr |
| Equestrian / smallholding | 15–40 kWp | £12k–£32k | £6k–£17k | 2.2–3.0 yr |
How we quote — the numbers that go into your price
A serious farm solar proposal isn't a "kW × £/kW" estimate. We build every quote from five real-world inputs:
- 1. Half-hourly meter data (12 months) — this tells us your actual demand pattern, your peak/off-peak split, your seasonal swing, and what % of generated solar you'll genuinely self-consume vs. export. Without this, sizing is a guess.
- 2. Roof and ground survey — we photograph and measure every roof surface, check structural integrity (especially for asbestos and 1970s-1990s steel buildings), and identify shading from neighbouring trees, silos and adjacent buildings. Shading kills 5–15% of expected yield if not designed around.
- 3. Supply intake and DNO check — we read your incoming supply meter, check three-phase vs single, identify the local DNO (UKPN, NGED, SSEN, SPEN, Northern Powergrid, NIE) and submit a budget enquiry for export capacity.
- 4. FETF / SFI / FBG / CARES / DAERA eligibility — we score your application against the current scheme criteria before committing you to the timeline. 92% approval rate on FETF, 94% on Welsh FBG-E.
- 5. Asset ownership and tenancy structure — we confirm whether you own the holding or operate under FBT/AHA, and structure the proposal accordingly. Tenant solar typically involves a 3-way deal with the landlord that we draft alongside.