# Commercial solar for Agriculture & farms

Farms and agricultural businesses are a natural home for solar. Large barn and shed roofs, spare land and steady on-farm demand from milking, refrigeration, grain drying and irrigation make funded solar PV and battery storage a strong fit — with no upfront cost.

Agriculture combines two things solar loves: plenty of unshaded roof or ground space, and real electrical demand across the day. Dairy parlours, cold stores, grain dryers, ventilation and irrigation pumps all draw power when the sun is up.

For sites with limited roof but available land, ground-mounted arrays can be an option, and battery storage helps cover early-morning milking and evening loads when generation has tailed off.

## Why it fits Agriculture & farms

- **Barn roofs and spare land** — Livestock sheds, grain stores and machinery barns offer large roof areas; some sites also suit ground-mounted systems on less productive land.
- **Demand matches generation** — Refrigeration, drying, ventilation and pumping create daytime load that consumes solar directly, maximising savings.
- **Diversify farm income** — Lower, more predictable energy costs strengthen resilience against volatile input prices and support diversification plans.
- **Support your assurance schemes** — On-site renewables help meet the environmental expectations of farm assurance and supermarket supply contracts.

## Frequently asked questions

**We have limited roof space but plenty of land — can we still go solar?**

Possibly. Where roofs are unsuitable, a ground-mounted array on less productive land can work. We assess your site, demand and connection to recommend the best approach.

**Can solar run our refrigeration and milking through the day?**

Yes — those are exactly the daytime loads solar covers well. Battery storage extends the benefit into early-morning and evening milking when the sun is low.

## Funding routes

| Route | Upfront | Payment | Ownership | Maintenance | Accounting | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) | £0 | Fixed rate per kWh | Yours for £1 at end of term | Fully included | Off-balance-sheet (operating cost) | Businesses that want no capital outlay, no risk and no maintenance — just lower bills from day one. |
| Outright Purchase (CapEx) | Full system cost | One-off capital cost | Yours from day one | Optional O&M package | Capital asset | Businesses with capital available that want the strongest long-term return and full ownership. |
| Hire Purchase (HP) | Deposit | Fixed monthly instalments | Yours at end of agreement | Optional O&M package | Asset on balance sheet | Businesses that want to own the system but spread the cost and protect their cash flow. |
| Leasing (Operating / Finance Lease) | Low / none | Fixed rentals (opex) | Return, extend or buy at end | Optional O&M package | Rentals as operating expense | Businesses that want minimal upfront cost and predictable, tax-efficient operating payments. |

**Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)** — Zero upfront. Pay only for the clean power you use.

Pros: No upfront cost or capital outlay; Rate guaranteed at least 30% below the grid; Fully funded, installed and maintained for you; System becomes yours for a nominal £1 at the end.

Consider: A long-term agreement (typically 15–25 years); You don't own the system during the term.

**Outright Purchase (CapEx)** — Own it from day one and keep 100% of the savings.

Pros: Best long-term return on investment; Own the asset and keep every kWh of savings; May qualify for capital allowances / full expensing; No financing or interest cost.

Consider: Ties up capital that could be used elsewhere; You're responsible for maintenance (we can arrange it).

**Hire Purchase (HP)** — Spread the cost, own the system at the end.

Pros: Preserve working capital — pay over an agreed term; Own the system outright at the end; Tax-efficient: claim capital allowances and offset interest; Fixed, predictable monthly payments.

Consider: Interest applies over the term; Subject to finance approval.

**Leasing (Operating / Finance Lease)** — Low upfront, predictable rentals as an operating cost.

Pros: Little or no upfront cost; Rentals are typically 100% tax-deductible; Predictable, fixed payments; Flexible end-of-term options.

Consider: You may not own the system at the end (depends on lease type); Subject to finance approval.

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Source: [Commercial solar for Agriculture & farms](https://ppafunding.com/commercial-solar-for/agriculture-and-farms) · Contact: 01743 649 888 · info@ppafunding.com · https://ppafunding.com

PPA Funding is an independent introducer operated by DVC Group Ltd (Companies House 10462808), Shrewsbury — not the funder, the installer or the maintenance provider. The service is free to use; a commission may be earned from a partner at no extra cost. Content is educational and is not financial or tax advice.