Can solar work for my farm or rural business?

Which types of farms benefit most from solar?

Dairy farms are among the best candidates for solar PV. Milking equipment, refrigeration and hot water systems run multiple times daily, creating consistent daytime demand that aligns with solar generation. A dairy with a large parlour roof can generate a significant portion of its annual electricity on-site.

Arable farms benefit from solar too, particularly for grain drying, potato storage and irrigation — all seasonal loads that coincide with peak generation in summer. Ground-mounted arrays on field margins or lower-grade land are an option where roof space is limited.

Livestock farms with ventilation, heating and lighting loads in cattle or poultry buildings can also benefit. Holiday lets and farm shops with daytime refrigeration, lighting and heating loads are well suited to smaller rooftop systems.

What about rural businesses that aren't farms?

Solar PV works for any rural business with a suitable roof or land and electricity consumption. Workshops, light industrial units, visitor centres, cafes and rural offices can all benefit. The key factors are roof orientation, available area and your electricity usage pattern.

Your no-obligation survey assesses your buildings, your energy use and your site to determine whether solar makes sense. If it does not, we will tell you. See our Business & Farms page for the full list of operations we arrange surveys for.

Can I install solar on multiple farm buildings?

Yes. Many farm solar installations span multiple roofs — for example, a dairy parlour, a grain store and a machinery shed. Your survey assesses all suitable buildings and recommends which to include. Multi-roof installations can be sized to cover a larger share of your farm's total electricity consumption.

Ground-mounted arrays are also an option where roof space is insufficient or unsuitable. Your survey includes an assessment of available land for ground-mounted solar.

Do I need planning permission for farm solar?

Rooftop solar on farm buildings typically does not require planning permission in Scotland, subject to certain conditions on panel projection and listed building status. Ground-mounted arrays may require planning permission depending on size and location. Your survey covers planning considerations for your specific installation.

How do I arrange a survey?

Use the quote form on this page, call us on 0141 230 0198, or visit our quote page. We arrange surveys at your farm across all Scottish farming regions — see our areas covered page for detail.