P16Farm buildings with panelsunconfirmed: likely Mercia (question 78)
[Carly: a farm job we've done: the farm, the town, what we fitted, a few photos (question 76)]
P16Farm buildings with panels, still behind the copy · mercia-commercial-solar-panels-farms.webp · unconfirmed: likely Mercia (question 78)
Solar panels for farms and agricultural buildings
Make productive use of the roofs on your barns, sheds and agricultural buildings. We design each system around those roofs, your energy data and the hours the farm uses power.
- 300+
commercial installations
Right for your farm if…
- Your barns or sheds have big roofs that sit unused
- Most of the farm's power is used in daylight hours
- You may add battery storage or EV charging later
Certified & Accredited By
Why solar panels suit barns, sheds and agricultural buildings
Farm buildings often have large roofs that sit idle while the farm keeps buying daytime power from the grid. Solar turns those roofs into on-site generation, sized around your demand, roof layout and working day.
Barns
Wide roofs on buildings you already have. Panels on a barn put that space to work without taking an acre out of farming.
Sheds and stores
Livestock sheds, machinery stores and workshops, often spread across the yard. We size the system to the buildings that use the power, so it's used where it's made.
Heat pumps and EV charging
Solar pairs well with heat pumps and EV infrastructure. If you run a heat pump or charge vehicles on the farm, we size the panels around that demand, and we can fit the EV chargers in the same plan.
What we check before we design
Every system starts with a site survey and a review of your half-hourly energy data. We look at each roof's layout and condition unconfirmed, how the panels will be fixed, which buildings use the power and what your electricity connection can take, so the design fits the farm and the way you use power.
[George: the farm roof types we fit on, for example profiled metal or fibre cement, how structural checks are done, and what we do when an older roof may contain asbestos.]
Site survey and half-hourly energy review
Barn and shed roofs: layout, condition unconfirmed and fixing method
Which buildings use the power, and where the system connects
Connection capacity and the G99 route
Installed around a working farm
The farm keeps running
Access, scaffolding and working at height are planned around livestock, machinery and traffic in the yard wherever possible. Work is scheduled, controlled and explained before it starts, and delivery follows CDM 2015 and BS 7671.
Grid connection and G99
Larger systems need your network operator's approval under G99 before they connect. We make the application, and if you want solar, battery and EV charging, we plan them together: one G99 application instead of three.
Battery storage, now or later
A battery keeps more of your solar on the farm, cuts peak imports and adds resilience against short grid interruptions where your load profile supports it. Add it now, or phase it in as loads grow.
What solar panels for farms cost
It depends on the system size, your roofs, access, the inverters, whether you add battery storage and any work on your electricity supply. We model expected generation, savings and grid impact before you commit to a project scope, so the business case is based on your farm, not a generic estimate.
[George: a price range per kWp for farm building roofs, as customers paid, with VAT stated.]
Solar panels may qualify for capital allowances such as the Annual Investment Allowance, which can reduce your tax bill in the year you buy. Potential tax treatment depends on your business's position and your own professional advice.
How a farm solar installation works
Survey and energy review
We visit the farm, look at each roof and review your energy data, so the system is sized to how you use power.
Proposal and grid application
A proposal with the system design, ways to pay and the G99 route, then the application to your network operator.
Installation around the farm
Scaffolding, edge protection and the install itself, planned around access and the farm's working day.
Handover and monitoring
Commissioning, the certification pack and monitoring, then maintenance options after handover.
Frequently asked questions
Are solar panels worth it on a farm?
Solar helps a farm reduce daytime grid imports, gain more control over energy costs and support sustainability reporting. Solar power for farms works best where there's suitable roof space and strong daytime demand. The survey tells you whether your buildings fit.
Can farms get grants for solar panels?
Public funding is selective and sector-specific, but still worth checking, including eligible regional programmes. We can help you assess fit before formal applications. Without a grant, you can pay outright, through a Smart Ease payment plan or a PPA, and solar panels may qualify for capital allowances.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels on farm buildings?
It depends on the building, where it is and the size of the system. Any site-specific approvals are identified early in the survey and proposal stage, and your local council can confirm what applies to your farm.
Can you fit solar panels on barns and agricultural buildings?
Yes. Solar makes productive use of barns, sheds and agricultural buildings, and it pairs well with heat pumps and EV infrastructure. Tell us about your buildings and how much power you use in the day, and we'll check what your roofs can take.
Will installation disrupt the farm?
Installations are planned around live-site access, safety requirements and day-to-day operations wherever possible. We keep disruption controlled, scheduled and clearly communicated.
Speak to an expert about your farm
Tell us about your farm buildings, energy use and future plans. We'll help you assess solar, battery storage and EV charging for one building or the whole farm.
300+ commercial installations · NICEIC approved contractor · CHAS Advanced
What happens next
Site survey
And a half-hourly energy review.
Proposal
With the spec, funding options and DNO path.
Installation
Planned around your farm and its working day.
We install for farms and businesses anywhere in England, Wales and Scotland from our base in Mickleover, Derby.