Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Business

Farmers without solar panels could lose out on £1bn as Government weighs up clampdown

by November 25, 2022
November 25, 2022
Farmers without solar panels could lose out on £1bn as Government weighs up clampdown

Farmers without solar panels could be missing out on up to £1bn over the next two years, according to new analysis from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU).

Solar panels have enabled farmers to sell energy they generate themselves to cut their own bills.

However, the vast majority of England’s farms do not have solar panels – with only 28 per cent having the renewable power source on their fields.

ECIU has calculated that if the remaining 78 per cent had followed their counterparts, energy savings and revenues could have almost balanced out the increase in fertiliser costs over the next two years.

This would have provided an estimated saving of up to be £1.1bn.

While gas costs are expected to remain historically elevated for at least the next two years, other income streams such as like renewables may be essential to some farm businesses surviving.

In the second quarter of 2022, farmers paid on average 98 per cent more for gas than in the first three months of 2021, and 45 per cent more for electricity.

Farms with renewables, such as solar panels, wind turbines and small hydroelectric plants, can earn extra income through power purchase agreements by either selling excess energy back to the grid or by leasing their land to energy generators.

Solar panels on agricultural sites would also mean the Government cutting hundreds of millions of pounds on its Energy Bill Relief Scheme support package for businesses’ energy bills.

The latest report from ECIU comes amid sustained speculation the DEFRA Secretary Thérèse Coffey os set to extend the de facto ban on solar farms in England to more farmland.

It is understood that Coffey is considering extending restrictions to solar developments to cover over 40 per cent of farmland.

Farmland is graded 1-5 for proposed developments – with the higher numbers (4-5) referring to poor quality land eligible for development and lower numbers defining high quality land essential for food security (1-3).

Currently, land graded 1-3a is ineligible, with grades 3b-5 considered suitable for development, but Downing Street is considering plans to make 3b ineligible for new sites to ensure food security.

Most proposed ground-mounted solar is currently put on Grade 3b land, which is typically less isolated and hilly for installations and transmissions.

Solar panels currently cover around 0.08 per cent of total land across the UK, or 0.1 per cent of UK farmland, only half the size of the Isle of Wight.

Matt Williams, climate and land programme lead at ECIU said: “Farmers are being hit by a double whammy of rising energy costs due to the surge in the gas price, and record prices for synthetic fertilisers which are made using gas.

“On top of that many are losing income as crops fail due to extreme weather driven by climate change. Some are choosing to leave the industry altogether as a result.”

Robbie Moore, Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley, added: “As gas prices rocket some farmers’ energy bills have gone through the roof. One of the best solutions is to have more renewables on farms. As long as care is taken to avoid land that’s needed to produce food they can help cut bills, bring in extra income, and achieve net zero.”

Read more:
Farmers without solar panels could lose out on £1bn as Government weighs up clampdown

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
London investment will come roaring back after drop-off, says British Business Bank
next post
Getting young people back into the office will require carrots as well as sticks

You may also like

Importance of PDF Templates to Businesses

May 27, 2024

Two hundred UK firms cement four-day week as...

January 27, 2025

Quantum Computing: Revolution in Solving Complex Problems

December 17, 2024

IR35 reforms to be scrapped in April 2023

September 23, 2022

Begbies Traynor anticipates continued high insolvency levels into...

July 10, 2024

Education Secretary Challenges Big Firms’ Plea Over Apprentice...

March 19, 2024

High Court overturns ruling in landmark judgement, clearing...

March 4, 2025

Truss appoints Jeremy Hunt as chancellor after sacking...

October 14, 2022

Millions set to claim disability benefits as mental...

January 8, 2024

4 Best Assignment Writing Services Reviewed by University...

May 24, 2025

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Elon Musk warpath against Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ rattles House GOP

      June 4, 2025
    • Durbin obstruction threat chills Senate as Trump nominees hang in balance

      June 4, 2025
    • Elon Musk posts ‘Kill Bill’ meme in latest push to nix Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’

      June 4, 2025
    • Why ADX Can Mislead You — And How to Avoid It

      June 4, 2025
    • S&P 500 on the Verge of 6,000: What’s at Stake?

      June 4, 2025
    • Johnson says Republicans ‘don’t have time’ to craft new Trump plan despite Musk’s call to ‘KILL the BILL’

      June 4, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,143)
    • Investing (2,006)
    • Politics (15,518)
    • Stocks (3,127)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved