Introduction
We can provide renewable energy solutions to farmers to help reduce their energy bills and to
provide another source of farm income. Below is a step by step guide of how to go about investing
in a solar PV system to put on your farm buildings.
Step 1 – Understand the basics
Before starting to consider solar PV it is worth understanding the basic principles. Solar photovoltaic
or PV mono crystalline cells capture light (either direct sunlight or indirect light) in the solar module
(panel). Electricity is generated by the sunlight (photons) hitting the module and agitating two
different silicon chemical layers (Boron and Phosphorous) which in turn creates a flow of electricity
through the panels. This electricity normally comes out of the panels as 43 volt direct current (DC)
and is then carefully managed and turned into 240 volt AC current by an inverter. Solar PV systems
are often described as passive i.e. there are no moving parts and therefore reliability is high and
there should be no noise or vibration etc.
Step 2 – Understand Feed in Tariffs (FiTS)
It is important to understand these payments as they are the key to the economic viability of solar
PV. For every unit of electricity generated by the system, whether it is used on the farm or sold, a
fixed payment is made. The payment rates are set by the Government, but funded by the electricity
companies who charge all electricity users an environmental or climate change levy.
The Feed in Tariff programme has changed in recent years in that it is now reviewed every quarter
against the number of Solar PV installations in that quarter. However, once you have signed into the
Feed in Tariffs at a rate, you are guaranteed that rate (RPI linked) for the following 20 years.
For installations on farm buildings the Feed in Tariff rate varies depending on the size of the array:
Tariff
(p/kwh)
13.50
12.57
11.10
10.62
Size
>4 - 10kW
>10 - 50kW
>50 - 150kW
>150 - 250kW
CHARTERED SURVEYORS
?
VALUERS
?
COUNTRY HOUSES & FARMS
?
PLANNING
?
LITIGATION
? FINANCE
?
RENEWABLES