Recently, there has been a huge fuss made of solar energy and other renewables.

It is seen as the future of energy generation, not just for the UK, but for the world.

We all look set to benefit….

But some more than others.

If you are a UK farmer or land-owner, you could be incredibly well placed to take advantage of the situation.

Keep reading to find out more.

Leasing land for solar

If you are considering leasing your land for a solar farm or battery storage asset, then you there are many things you may need to consider. It is incredibly difficult to wade through all of the paperwork, online guides, and jargon to make sense of it all.

Luckily, we’ve done that all for you and compiled it into this article.

Leasing your land for a solar farm or a battery storage asset can help you earn a long-term, stable, and sizeable income. All while being central to the UK’s journey to net zero.

But how do you know if your land is suitable for this development?

Factors such as the size of your land, the location, and the legal status are all important. Some are critical, and some can be worked around.

Six steps to assessing suitability

1. Is your land near a 33kV grid connection?

One of the keys to a successful renewable energy project is the placement of the site. If a cost-effective connection from your land to the grid can be readily secured then things are looking up.

For both solar projects and battery storage, access to at least a 33kV grid connection is important. There should also ideally be spare capacity in that part of the grid.

This is often an unsurmountable hurdle to cross as across the UK suitable grid capacity is getting harder to obtain. So, be aware of the following;

If the grid connection is on your land, things become much easier
That’s because, if a connection is near your land but not on it, a third-party access agreement known as a “wayleave” would be required, which adds complexity and cost.
If there is a suitable grid connection, you may need to act quickly
A grid connection available today may no longer be viable six months from now – which would mean missing the opportunity for a solar farm on your land.
But just because electricity lines cross your land, don’t assume there is a suitable grid connection
It might be good news, but it might not: the line’s voltage could be too low, or there might not be enough capacity in the network.

Luckily for you, you don’t have to be an expert in grid connections to take advantage of this opportunity. At Energy Solutions, we are perfectly placed to be able to advise on the situation and steer you towards the best possible outcome.

2. Does your land have the right legal status?

The legal or environmental status of your land can severely change the suitability. It is wise to check the following criteria;

Protected land
For a solar or battery storage development, your land should not usually be within a national park, nature reserve, area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) or site/area of special specific interest (SSSI/ASSI). If there are protected species in a development area then appropriate measures should be put in place.

Agricultural land classification
To comply with development rules, your land should not usually be higher-quality agricultural land preserved for farming (known as “best and most versatile” land in England and Wales, and “prime” agricultural land in Scotland). In some areas there may be limited access to other land and the local authorities may take a more flexible approach.
Flood zones
It i preferred that your land is outside of a flood zone. It is possible to develop in flood zones 1 and 2 (where there is a low or medium probability of flooding), subject to a flood risk assessment and design mitigations as necessary.

3. Is the size large enough?

In order to have a successful project the land available must be of a sufficient size. This is most important for solar farms as the space required in significantly larger.

For solar – at least 80 acres as a minimum. 
The solar farm should be located on one site rather than several pockets of land spread over a wide area. This is because spreading solar over a wide area leads to energy losses and higher maintenance costs.
For battery storage – can be much smaller.
Two or three acres is sufficient for battery storage.

4. Does the site get enough sun?

As you can imagine, solar in the UK does vary. Land in the south-east will receive more of the suns’ rays so is ideal for solar, the further north you go the more difficult it gets.

The West Coast of Scotland in particular is not suited to solar due to the cloudier conditions. Isolated areas are even more difficult due to the lack of suitable grid connections nearby.

5. Is the site away from residential areas?

Again, as you can imagine, it is preferred that the site is away from residential areas. This is for the following reasons;

Battery storage systems can cause noise
The air conditioning units required for battery storage can be noisy and soundproofing measures will need to be included in the design if deemed too close to a residential location.
Not everyone may support sola
Solar farm development can be a divisive topic. While most people will be supportive, a minority may see them as damaging the landscape or reducing food production.

For these reasons it is important to open communications with local community and neighbours. After all, it could seriously affect how you obtain planning permissions.

6. Is the terrain suitable?

There are several practical considerations to take into account when it comes to assessing the suitability of land directly;

Flat land is preferred for solar
For solar installations the land should be either flat or on a gentle south-facing slope. It will still work well if not, but steep slopes and north-facing land is best avoided. For battery storage the land should also ideally be relatively flat.

Tall trees are an issue
It is a challenge if your site is surrounded by tall trees, especially on the southern area. It is possible to work around this if there are trees on one boundary but it is preferred that the site is away from tall trees altogether.
Water connection is a bonus
The ability to connect to water is a strong bonus as it can help with maintenance. If mains water cannot be provided.

Energy Solutions by Us, for You                

At a time of great uncertainty in global energy markets, it is easy to feel lost in it all.          

Keeping up to date with developing situations and the associated ramifications is a tricky and time-consuming job. It is also one that is not likely a priority for you and your business.         

So, what do you do?          

You partner with energy procurement experts to take the load off your desk.        

Energy Solutions have been trusted brokers for countless businesses for over twenty years, which means we know how to navigate the energy markets during a time of uncertainty.      

Website: https://www.energybrokers.co.uk/     

Email: nick@energybrokers.co.uk     

Call Us: 0131 610 1688     

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