No one in the rural community needs to be told that the current economy is hard on farmers. Costs are high, profits are uncertain and the future feels very unclear.
Diversifying farm income is one way to make sure that your business can continue moving forward.
Leasing land for solar and storage is a sustainable way to secure long-term, index-linked income for your farm for decades to come, and you can still farm the land once the panels are in place.
Solar
Solar is becoming an increasingly popular option for farmers and landowners across the UK – it’s weather-proof, comes with decades of guaranteed income and has the added benefit of having significant positive impacts for the land, the local community and the environment.
Every solar project generates green, renewable electricity for businesses, utilities and communities, and contributes towards meeting vital government targets aimed at combatting both the energy and climate crises.
Leasing your land for solar doesn’t mean abandoning traditional farming practices, either.
Solar farms are the perfect place to graze sheep, so you will find that by renting your land for solar you’re able to make the acres work twice as hard – income from the panels, and income from your flock.
Solar panels provide shade and shelter for sheep, while the secure fencing offers protection from predation and harassment. Research across the world, from the US to Australia, suggests that solar grazing is a win for your sheep, and your bottom line.
Positive impacts of solar on land
As well as financial benefits, a solar lease can be a bonus for land quality and local biodiversity. Properly managed, solar farms can be havens for local wildlife, and there is even evidence to suggest that projects planted with pollinators in mind can have a positive impact on food production.
The disruption to the land from the solar panels is minimal, and land is returned to its original state or better when the lifespan of the project is up. There is also research which infers that the quality of soil under solar panels improves during the duration of the project.
The positive impacts of solar projects don’t stop at the site boundaries. Solar projects developed in Northern Ireland are subject to business rates, which means that the Local Authority will benefit from hundreds of thousands of pounds across the lifespan of each project, potentially even millions, in taxes related to the project.
The business rates paid by the owner of the solar farm on your land could go towards improvements to local services such as schools and community assets, meaning that the project has benefits that go beyond sustainable energy.
Lightsource bp
Lightsource bp is a leader in UK and Irish solar. It develops, finances, builds and operates utility-scale solar power and storage projects through smart and sustainable solutions.
The company has been active in Northern Ireland since 2013, and to date has developed around 60% of the operational large-scale solar in the country.
It entered the Republic of Ireland in 2015, and developed a portfolio of around 300MW, building strong partnerships across the country.
Lightsource bp has a superb local track record, making it the ideal partner for any landowner looking to make the most of their land, secure long-term income and contribute to the fight against climate change.
To know more about how solar can support your business, contact Lightsource bp’s solar experts by email; [email protected] / [email protected], or by cphone; +44 (0)28 942 40923 / +353 (0)1 685 6263.
Alternatively, visit its UK site here or its .ie site here, for more information.
