How Much do Agricultural Solar Panels Cost?

The cost of agricultural solar varies significantly depending on the scale of your operation and the type of system you install.

Getting a realistic picture of costs, grants, and returns upfront helps you work out whether solar makes financial sense for your farm and which route to installation suits you best.

What affects the cost of farm solar panels?

The cost of solar panels on a farm varies massively depending on a number of factors:

System size and capacity

The biggest driver of cost is system size, measured in kilowatt-peak (kWp). Larger systems generate more electricity but require a higher upfront investment. 

For farms, the right system size is usually determined by your energy consumption, the roof or land area available, and your budget. 

Cost per kWp tends to fall as system size increases, meaning larger installations often deliver better value per unit of capacity than smaller ones.

Roof-mounted vs ground-mounted

Roof-mounted systems on existing farm buildings are generally cheaper to install than ground-mounted arrays, as they don't require ground preparation, additional mounting structures, or civil engineering work. If your farm has suitable roof space on barns or other agricultural buildings, this is usually the more cost-effective starting point.

Ground-mounted systems offer more flexibility on orientation and can improve overall generation, but they involve additional groundworks, cabling, and in most cases a planning application. Learn more about planning permission for agricultural solar.

Battery storage integration

Adding battery storage increases the upfront cost but allows you to store surplus energy generated during the day for use in the evening or during periods of low sunlight. 

For farms with energy use that extends beyond daylight hours, such as milking operations or refrigeration, battery storage can meaningfully improve the overall return on your investment.

Agricultural solar cost breakdown by farm size

The figures below are indicative ranges based on typical agricultural installations. Actual costs will vary depending on site conditions, system design, and any additional infrastructure required.

Small farm solar systems

Small systems up to 50kWp suit smaller holdings or farms looking to offset a portion of their electricity use. Costs for this range typically fall between £20,000 and £50,000. These systems work well on a single barn roof or a compact ground-mounted array.

Medium farm solar systems

Systems in the 50-250kWp range suit most working farms with moderate to high energy demands. Installation costs typically run from £50,000 to £200,000 depending on system type and site conditions. A well-sized system at this scale can cover the majority of a farm's daytime energy needs.

Large farm solar systems

Large systems above 250kWp are suited to high-consumption operations or farms looking to generate meaningful income through energy export. Costs generally start at £200,000 and rise with scale. Projects at this size often involve more complex grid connection work and may require an Environmental Impact Assessment as part of the planning process.

Remember that this pricing is just based on estimates. Getting in contact with our team is the best way to get a more accurate quote as well as projected savings. 

Agricultural solar grants and funding options

Improving farm productivity (IFP) grants

The Improving Farm Productivity grant is available through the Rural Payments Agency and covers up to 25% of eligible project costs for solar PV installations. 

Grant amounts typically range from £15,000 to £100,000, applying to systems installed on farm roofs or reservoirs. Ground-mounted systems do not qualify.

The grant is competitive, with applications assessed against specific criteria. Having a well-designed system and a clear business case increases your chances of a successful application.

Power purchase agreements

A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) allows a third-party funder to cover the full installation cost with no upfront investment from you. In return, you purchase the electricity generated at a fixed discounted rate over an agreed term, typically between 10 and 25 years.

PPAs make solar accessible where budget is a constraint, though the long-term return is lower than self-financing. The fixed rate offers some protection against rising energy prices, but you do not own the system outright.

What is the ROI on agricultural solar panels?

For self-financed systems, the payback period on farm solar is typically between 6 and 10 years, depending on system size, your current energy costs, and how much of the generated electricity you use directly. 

Solar panels typically have a working lifespan of 25 years or more, meaning most farms can expect a significant period of effectively free electricity after the initial investment is recovered.

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) allows you to sell surplus electricity back to the grid, providing an additional income stream on top of the direct savings on your bills. 

Farms that use more of their generated power on-site, rather than exporting it, tend to see the strongest returns.

Ongoing costs are low. Our maintenance and servicing packages keep your system running efficiently across its full lifespan, protecting the return on your investment.

To find out what agricultural solar panels could save your farm specifically, speak to our team for an assessment based on your actual energy data.