Jonathan Keeling, a third-generation farmer from Crays Hall Farm in Essex, said: “The attractiveness of hosting a solar farm is having a steady income whilst allowing you to carry on farming. The land I formerly used for agriculture wasn’t very profitable – so the solar panels have really helped.”
Keeling, who has two solar installations and a third underway, highlighted how solar energy provides financial stability while enabling farms to support sustainable practices.
A better future for farming
Eric Seeley, from Fossil Farm in Dorset, produces 90,000 plates of fruit and vegetables weekly, alongside 7,000 portions of meat. He described hosting a solar farm as: “[It] just keeps allowing farmers to continue growing food for the county… and I think when you speak to the majority of farmers that are involved with solar, everyone’s of the same opinion: it’s allowing you to become a better farmer.”
Addressing initial concerns about public opposition, Seeley added: “I thought we’d have people bashing down the door… that never happened. That never, ever happened.”
Keeling echoed this sentiment, saying:“I did not have any problems with the local community, and once the panels are built, there’s not much impact.”
Biodiversity and broader benefits
Jo Nicholson, who farms 12,000 acres in Buckinghamshire, stressed how solar farms benefit wildlife and enhance agricultural productivity: “Solar farms attract pollinators and deliver natural pest control, boosting agricultural income.”
Seeley similarly described the land under his panels as: “A paradise for biodiversity.”
Solar Energy UK’s Solar Habitat reports reinforce these claims, documenting species like brown hares, skylarks, and butterflies thriving on solar farms nationwide.
With support from British farmers, Solar Energy UK is targeting 50 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2030, providing sustainable, low-cost, and secure power for the UK.
Image: Unsplash