Farming around York
York and the surrounding Vale of York is one of the most productive arable belts in northern England. Large-scale wheat, barley and oilseed rape farms dominate the lowlands, with significant grain-drying and storage infrastructure clustered around the A64 / A19 corridor. The Vale of York supports intensive pig and poultry units around Pocklington and Easingwold, plus dairy on the heavier clay soils east towards Stamford Bridge. North Yorkshire Council has been broadly supportive of agricultural rooftop solar; ground-mount within the Howardian Hills AONB needs careful LVIA. Most projects in this catchment are 80-300 kWp on multi-shed arable or pig holdings.
Local installation profile
- County: North Yorkshire
- Local authority: City of York Council
- DNO: Northern Powergrid — typical G99 turnaround 8-14 weeks
- Solar irradiance: 970 kWh/m²/yr
- Population: 208,000
- Neighbouring areas covered: Tadcaster, Selby, Pocklington, Easingwold, Stamford Bridge
- Nearest installation hub: Leeds
Grants and tax relief available for York farms
- ✓ Improving Farm Productivity grant (England) — 25% towards solar capital costs; the FETF closed for good on 28 April 2026. See 2026 calendar.
- ✓ 100% Annual Investment Allowance — write down residual cost in year one
- ✓ Smart Export Guarantee — roughly 4–12p/kWh, as at July 2026, for surplus generation
- ✓ SFI Pollinator Package — agrivoltaic ground cover £600-800/ha/year
Typical farm solar projects around York
| Farm type | System | Gross | After AIA + grant | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy (150-300 head) | 65-150 kWp | £45-105k | £24-56k | 1.8-2.4 yr |
| Arable (400-1,200 ac) | 50-200 kWp | £35-140k | £19-75k | 2.0-2.6 yr |
| Free-range poultry (16k bird) | 80-150 kWp | £55-105k | £29-56k | 1.5-1.9 yr |
| Mixed (200-500 ac) | 30-75 kWp | £21-53k | £11-28k | 1.7-2.2 yr |
York farm solar — what's included in every quote
- ✓ Free desk feasibility from your half-hourly meter data (3 working days)
- ✓ On-site structural and electrical survey
- ✓ grant application written and submitted
- ✓ Northern Powergrid G99 grid connection application managed end-to-end
- ✓ MCS-certified Tier-1 panels (Trina, JA Solar, REC, SunPower)
- ✓ Asbestos cement roofing assessed; licensed removal coordinated if needed
- ✓ 25-year panel warranty, 10-year inverter, 5-year workmanship
- ✓ IWA insurance-backed warranty for 10 years even if we cease trading
- ✓ Annual maintenance contracts from £250/year