Yorkshire farms are perfectly placed for solar. Large barn rooftops, open land and significant daytime electricity loads make agricultural solar one of the most financially compelling renewable energy investments available.
Farming businesses across Yorkshire face significant and rising electricity costs — powering grain dryers, milking parlours, refrigeration, lighting, electric fencing, water pumps and farm offices. Solar power is one of the most effective tools available to reduce these costs and protect farm margins against energy price volatility.
Yorkshire farms typically have significant advantages for solar: large, unshaded barn rooftops ideal for roof-mounted systems, and open land suitable for ground-mount arrays. Ground-mount systems in particular can be sited to maximise solar exposure and scaled from 30kWp to several hundred kWp depending on available land and grid connection capacity.
Leeds Solar has extensive experience installing agricultural solar across West and North Yorkshire — from dairy farms in the Dales to arable operations in the Vale of York. We understand the planning considerations for rural and agricultural solar, including permitted development rights for farm buildings and the separate planning regime that applies to ground-mounted arrays above certain thresholds.
We also understand the seasonal nature of agricultural electricity consumption — peak loads during harvest, reduced consumption during winter — and design systems that maximise financial return across the full annual cycle, including Smart Export Guarantee income during lower-consumption periods.
Large agricultural buildings — grain stores, machinery sheds, cattle barns, poultry units — offer ideal roof areas for solar. Typically covered by permitted development rights, meaning no planning permission required. Systems from 20kWp to 250kWp+.
Where roof space is limited or land is available, ground-mounted systems offer maximum flexibility and optimal panel orientation. Arrays can be sited on poor-quality agricultural land, field margins or south-facing slopes. Planning permission typically required for larger systems.
Agrivoltaic installations combine solar generation with continued agricultural use of the same land — grazing beneath panels, soft fruit production or beekeeping. An increasingly popular approach that maximises returns from every acre.
Farm battery systems allow you to store surplus generation for use during evening milking, early morning grain drying or other off-peak agricultural loads — maximising self-consumption and reducing grid imports at peak-rate times.
Electric UTVs, golf-style farm vehicles and increasingly electric tractors can all be charged on solar electricity. We integrate EV charging infrastructure with farm solar systems for a complete rural energy solution.
Agricultural solar systems consistently achieve payback periods of 4–6 years, with 25+ years of subsequent free generation. Full expensing capital allowances make the after-tax case even more compelling for farming businesses.
Leeds Solar installed a 75kWp ground-mounted solar array for an arable farming business near Wetherby, North Yorkshire. The system was sited on a south-facing field margin, leaving the main fields fully operational.
The array generates approximately 63,750 kWh per year, powering grain drying, irrigation pumping and farm office loads. Annual electricity cost saving: £16,800. Smart Export Guarantee income: £2,100/year from surplus exported during low-consumption periods.
Total project cost: £63,000 + VAT. After 100% first-year capital allowances and the annual savings, the effective payback period was under 4 years. The system has a 25-year performance warranty and requires only an annual maintenance visit.
| System type | Ground-mount |
| System size | 75kWp |
| Annual generation | 63,750 kWh |
| Annual saving | £16,800 |
| SEG income | £2,100/yr |
| Total annual benefit | £18,900 |
| Payback period | ~3.9 years |
Talk to our agricultural solar specialists — free site visit, planning advice and detailed financial modelling.
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