Ground-mounted solar is the solution for farms with available land but limited suitable roof space — or for farms looking to deploy larger systems than their buildings can accommodate. Purpose-built ground arrays can be precisely angled for optimal south-facing orientation, avoid the structural limitations of older farm buildings, and scale from 50kW to multi-megawatt installations.

Agricultural ground-mounted systems differ from commercial solar farms in one critical way: they can maintain productive agricultural use of the land. Agrivoltaic installations elevate panels to 2-3 metres, allowing sheep grazing underneath. Research from the University of Sheffield demonstrates that sheep grazing beneath solar panels can be as productive as open pasture, while the panels provide shade and shelter that improves animal welfare in extreme weather. The dual income from solar generation and livestock represents a compelling economic case for grazing farms.

Planning permission for ground-mounted solar on agricultural land follows specific rules under the Town and Country Planning Act. Systems under 50kW and occupying less than 0.5 hectares may qualify as Permitted Development under Part 14 (Class B) of the General Permitted Development Order. Larger systems require full planning applications, which we prepare and submit including landscape and visual impact assessments, agricultural land classification reports, and ecological surveys where required. For AONB and Green Belt sites, additional considerations apply — we provide specialist planning support for sensitive locations.

System costs for ground-mounted installations run approximately £800-£1,200 per kW installed for systems over 100kW, including foundations, mounting structures, cabling, and grid connection. A 250kW ground-mounted system on approximately 1.5 acres of land generates around 225,000 kWh annually — enough to power several farm buildings or generate £15,000-£25,000 in annual savings and export income depending on self-consumption rates.

Foundation options include driven steel piles (fastest, least disruptive, fully reversible), concrete ballast blocks (for sites where ground conditions prevent pile driving), and screw-pile foundations (suitable for variable soil conditions). All foundation methods are designed to be fully removable at end of life, returning the land to its original state — a key planning requirement for agricultural land.