Solar panels for farms in the UK work best on farms that use a lot of power in the day, such as dairies, cold stores and grain dryers. In England, panels on a farm building roof are usually permitted development, so no full planning application is needed, but systems over 50kW need prior approval first. As of 25 October 2026 there is no open grant in England for farm rooftop solar.

Why farm roofs suit solar

Farm buildings often have big, simple roofs close to the meter. And many farms use power at the same time the sun is out.

  • Dairy: milk cooling, vacuum pumps, water heating and washing.
  • Cooling: cold stores for fruit, vegetables and potatoes.
  • Drying: grain and hay drying in late summer, when solar output is high.
  • Irrigation: pumps that run hardest in dry, sunny weeks.
  • Poultry and pigs: fans, lighting and heating.
  • Workshops: welders, compressors and tools.

Every unit you use yourself saves the full price you pay for grid power. Exported power usually earns far less. So the more of your solar you use on the farm, the faster it pays back.

Do solar panels on agricultural buildings need planning permission?

Usually not full planning permission. In England, solar on the roof of a non-domestic building, including a farm building, is permitted development under Class J of Part 14 of the General Permitted Development Order.

Since 21 December 2023 there is no 1MW cap. Large barns, sheds and stores can all use this route.

System What you need
Roof, up to 50kW No application, if you meet the limits below
Roof, over 50kW Prior approval from the local planning authority
Listed building, or within its grounds Full planning permission
Ground mount over 9 square metres Usually full planning permission

Prior approval is a short application that looks at one thing: design and appearance, mainly glare for neighbours. The council has 56 days to decide. Don’t start work until you have a decision, or the 56 days have passed. More on prior approval.

The limits for permitted development:

  • Pitched roof: panels no more than 0.2 metres proud of the roof slope.
  • Flat roof: no more than 1 metre above the highest part of the roof.
  • Edges: at least 1 metre from the edge of the roof.
  • Not allowed on listed buildings, buildings within the grounds of a listed building, or scheduled monuments.

These rules apply in England. Wales and Scotland have their own.

Check the roof first

The roof matters as much as the panels. Panels last 25 years or more, so the roof needs to as well.

  • Age and condition. If the sheets will need replacing in the next 10 to 20 years, do it before the panels go on. Taking panels off and putting them back costs money.
  • Structure. A structural engineer should check the frame and purlins (the beams the sheets fix to) can take the extra weight and wind loads.
  • Asbestos. Many older farm buildings have asbestos cement sheets. Get an asbestos survey before any work. The HSE says to treat these roofs as fragile: they can shatter without warning. Options include re-roofing first, over-cladding, or putting the panels somewhere else.
  • Livestock buildings. Ammonia from animals can corrode kit. Ask for panels tested for ammonia resistance (to the standard IEC 62716) and suitable fixings.
  • Insurance. Tell your insurer before the install.

Grid connection and G99

Rural supplies are often single phase, at the end of long lines. That can limit how much solar you can connect.

  • Any system over 3.68kW per phase needs G99 approval from the network operator before you connect. Almost every farm system is in this group. G99 explained.
  • If the local network is busy, an export limit can get you a yes. The panels still power the farm, but you send less to the grid.
  • A bigger system may need a three-phase supply or other network upgrades. These can take time and cost money, so apply early.

Export and batteries

You can get paid for power you don’t use through the Smart Export Guarantee, a tariff offered by electricity suppliers. Rates vary a lot, so shop around. Getting paid for export.

A battery can help farms that use power outside sunny hours. Morning milking, for example, often starts before the panels are making much. A battery stores the midday surplus for later.

Are there grants for solar panels on agricultural buildings?

Not right now in England. Here’s where things stand:

  • Improving Farm Productivity grant (round 2). Part of the Farming Investment Fund. It paid 25% towards rooftop solar, batteries and grid connections, from £15,000 to £100,000 per business. Ground-mounted arrays were not covered. It has closed and no new round has been announced.
  • Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2026. Closed in May 2026. It did not fund solar panels to power farm buildings. Solar only appeared as part of items like solar-powered water pumps.
  • GOV.UK’s list of farm funding (updated 1 October 2026) shows no open grant for farm solar.

Be wary of websites that promise farm solar grants. Check the GOV.UK funding page before you plan around one. Tax reliefs, such as capital allowances, may still help. Ask your accountant.

When to put solar on the ground instead

A roof isn’t always the right place. A ground mount may suit you better if:

  • the roof is asbestos and you don’t plan to replace it,
  • the frame is too weak for the extra weight,
  • the roof faces north or is heavily shaded,
  • or the roof is too small for what you use.

Ground mounts can face south at the best angle and are easier to clean and maintain. But anything over about 9 square metres usually needs planning permission. Small ground-mount planning.

For buildings or fields with no grid at all, an off-grid system with batteries can work. Farm and off-grid power.

What we do

We look at your bills or meter data, size the system to what your farm uses, and check the roof, grid and planning route. We can handle prior approval and G99 for you. Installs are delivered with certified partner installers.

Get a farm solar quote → · Rooftop prior approval →

Sources

Facts last checked 25 October 2026. Rules and grants change. This is general information, not planning, tax or legal advice.