Agricultural solar panel installation isn't generic solar work. Farm buildings — old asbestos barns, modern portal-frame parlours, listed stone outhouses, 1970s steel-frame general-purpose buildings, polytunnels and pack-houses — each present different structural, electrical and operational challenges. Done well, a farm solar system pays back inside two years and runs for twenty-five. Done badly, it underperforms, voids warranties and locks the farm into 20 years of regret.
Why agricultural solar installation needs specialists
A generalist solar company will quote off a Google Earth measurement and a residential install template. A farm-specialist installer starts with three things a generalist won't: twelve months of half-hourly meter data, a structural survey of every roof you're considering, and a DNO budget enquiry to check export capacity. Without those three, the quote is a guess, and the system delivered is either oversized (poor return because surplus exports at 4p/kWh) or undersized (less of your demand offset).
Farm buildings also present three structural patterns that don't appear on residential roofs:
- Asbestos cement roofing — around 18% of UK farm barns still have ACM roofing from 1960s-1980s. Licensed removal must happen before install. A specialist quotes the combined re-roof + PV business case; a generalist either misses it (quoting solar onto unsafe substrate) or refuses the job.
- Steel portal frames (1970s-1990s) — purlins on 1.5-1.8m centres, often rusted, sometimes already loaded near capacity. Each system needs load calcs against the actual building stock.
- Listed and traditional stone farmsteads — heritage applications, conservation officer engagement, often a separate planning track from modern barn installs on the same holding.
Our 8-stage installation process
Every project we deliver follows the same disciplined sequence. We don't rush the early stages — most underperforming systems we audit failed at feasibility:
1. Free desk feasibility (Day 1-3)
Send a recent electricity bill and roof drawing (or Google Earth screenshot). We model expected generation, self-consumption %, indicative cost band and grant eligibility (IFP, FBG-E, CARES, DAERA).
2. On-site survey (Week 2-3)
Structural and electrical engineers visit. ~3 hours on site. Measure roofs, test cable runs, photograph supply intake, check three-phase status, identify asbestos.
3. Fixed-price proposal (Week 3-4)
Full design pack — panel layout, inverter spec, structural calcs, grid connection forecast, AIA + grant modelling, total cost, payback. Three finance routes (capex/asset finance/PPA) side-by-side. Valid 90 days.
4. Order acceptance + deposit (Week 4-5)
15% deposit secures the project, locks in panel pricing. Asbestos test or DNO budget enquiry triggered.
5. DNO application + planning (Week 5-14)
We submit G99 to your DNO (UKPN, NGED, SSEN, SPEN, Northern Powergrid, NIE Networks) and handle planning where required.
6. Grant paperwork (Week 5-10)
IFP/FBG-E/CARES/DAERA application written and submitted on your behalf as part of the installer's fixed price.
7. Installation (Week 14-22)
On-site 1-6 weeks depending on system size. Directly-employed teams (no subbies). Sequenced around milking, harvest, lambing, placement weeks.
8. Commissioning + handover (Week 22-24)
DNO sign-off, MCS certificate, SEG registration, monitoring activation, 60-90min farm-team training, 90-day post-handover performance review.
What's included in every installation
Hardware
- ✓ MCS-certified Tier-1 panels (Trina, JA Solar, REC, Meyer Burger, SunPower, LONGi)
- ✓ Inverters (SolarEdge / SMA / Fronius / Huawei)
- ✓ DC isolators, AC switchgear, surge protection
- ✓ Bird mesh, weatherproof mountings
- ✓ Monitoring system + mobile dashboard
- ✓ Battery storage (optional, LiFePO4 — Tesla / BYD / Pylontech / Sungrow)
Services
- ✓ Half-hourly meter data analysis
- ✓ Structural roof survey (or ground-mount geotech)
- ✓ DNO G99 application end-to-end
- ✓ IFP/SFI/FBG-E/CARES/DAERA grant writing
- ✓ Planning application where required
- ✓ Asbestos cement assessment + licensed removal
- ✓ Scaffolding, install labour, commissioning
- ✓ MCS certificate, EPC update, SEG registration
Pricing summary
| System size | Gross cost | After AIA + grant | Annual saving | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 kW | £14,000–£18,000 | £8,400–£10,800 | £4,200 | 2.0–2.6 yr |
| 50 kW | £32,000–£40,000 | £19,200–£24,000 | £10,500 | 1.8–2.3 yr |
| 100 kW | £60,000–£75,000 | £36,000–£45,000 | £21,500 | 1.7–2.1 yr |
| 250 kW | £140,000–£175,000 | £84,000–£105,000 | £55,000 | 1.5–1.9 yr |
| 500 kW | £270,000–£330,000 | £162,000–£198,000 | £112,000 | 1.5–1.8 yr |
Figures assume 70% self-consumption at 30p/kWh, capital grants at 25–40% capital, 100% AIA on residual. Real economics vary by farm type — see full pricing page for per-sector breakdown.
Why farms pick us over generalist installers
- ✓ Agricultural work as the core business — not a sideline
- ✓ Half-hourly meter data analysis built into every quote
- ✓ capital grant writing as standard, zero extra fee
- ✓ Asbestos cement assessment on every survey, licensed removal coordinated
- ✓ Directly-employed installation teams — we never subcontract
- ✓ IWA insurance-backed warranty — 10-year cover even if we cease trading
- ✓ 25-yr panel warranty, 10-yr inverter cover, 5-yr workmanship
- ✓ 5 regional installation hubs + NI partner = every UK postcode covered
- ✓ Annual maintenance contracts from £250/yr — extends asset life
Frequently asked questions
How long does a farm solar installation take?
12–24 weeks total. Site survey within 2 weeks, fixed-price proposal in week 3-4, DNO + grant paperwork weeks 5-14, install weeks 14-22, commissioning week 22-24.
Do I need planning permission?
Most rooftop solar on existing agricultural buildings qualifies as permitted development. Ground-mount above 1 MW, listed buildings, AONBs and National Parks need full planning — we handle every application.
What size system does my farm need?
We size from 12 months of half-hourly meter data, not rule-of-thumb. Typical: small farm 20-50 kW (£14-40k gross), medium 50-150 kW (£35-105k), large 150-500 kW (£90-330k).
Will installation disrupt my farming?
No. We sequence around milking, harvest, lambing and placement windows. Dairy isolations under 30 minutes. Lambing-shed work September-February only.
What about FETF and other grants?
Improving Farm Productivity grant (England, 25%, £100k cap), Welsh FBG-E (40%, £12-100k), Scottish CARES (loans to £150k) + SRDP (50% on islands), NI DAERA (40%). All stack with 100% AIA. We write every application.