Shropshire farmers turning to solar energy to boost income

Small-scale solar farms are likely to become an increasingly frequent sight on fields in Shropshire and Mid Wales.

While large scale solar farms are proving controversial, smaller installations that are less obtrusive are likely to spring up.

One farmer who has swapped dairy for daylight has spoken out about why he plumped for panels.

With protests over the falling price of milk constantly in the headlines, Shropshire farmer Martin Davies has joined the ranks of those looking to diversify into green energy.

Applications for large-scale 'solar farms' have proved controversial in recent months, particularly in south Shropshire where four such proposals on farmland near Bridgnorth, Church Stretton, Cleobury Mortimer and Ludlow have been turned down by county planners.

Another, created by Telford Council, started operating earlier this year.

But Mr Davies' 2,000-panel installation is less than a tenth of the size, and is simply a novel way to subsidise his farm in the Shropshire hills near Shrewsbury, he said.

Originally dairy, beef and sheep farmers, the Davies family sold off their dairy herd in 2012 and began looking for an alternative income stream to replace that revenue.

Mr Davies said it was a trip to an energy show in 2013 led them to think about solar energy and the income from the Feed-in Tariff paid for every unit of electricity produced.

The family then visited Derbyshire where farm firm the Bowler Group was holding an open day including a tour of local solar PV installations on Bowler-owned farms.

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He opted for a 500kW ground-mounted system at a cost of about £520,000 and the installation started in April 2014 on one field.

Once construction had been completed, he is able to allow his sheep back in to graze underneath the panels which means he doesn't lose any pasture, Mr Davies said, adding: "We had a lot of help from Bowler Energy in getting everything sorted out, and the ongoing support has been very good."

Son Joe Davies said the family had no regrets at all about installing the panels.

"In fact we are looking at extending the system by adding 200kW of additional PV panels," he said.

He said the current system was expected to generate about 464,500 kWh per year, giving a total annual income of £60,617, due to make back what they invested in around 8.6 years.

Joe said there was very little input needed from the family, especially as they had a Solar Logger device that notifies him immediately by text if there is a problem with the panels and keeps a track of the amount of electricity being produced.

"It's brilliant, it tells me straight away if I need to go and check anything. It gives real peace of mind," he said.

Among the first farmers to install such small-scale panel developments in the county was Edward Davies, who put up a 150m long ground array of 1,200 panels at Comberton Farm, in Ludlow and a further 60m spread of 1,100 panels spanning three poultry sheds at Cottage Farm, near Presteigne in Powys, in 2012.

Again the scheme is expected to pay for itself in about eight years from when the panels were installed.