Anyone had any experience of letting land for solar farm.

Dog

Member
Location
Bath
As title. What are the unforeseen drawbacks. Once the site is up and running what is the value of the the land to sell.( one land agent I spoke to said around 18k/ac)
yearly rent price is based on cost of electric, is there any website that I can get an update price of whole sale electric.
 

maen

Member
Location
S West
Did you mean £18,000 an acre for solar panels?
The land put in a business run as a company would be good for the lifetime of the project. Rates would be paid by owners of solar panels.
 
I’ve seen deals where the panels are “given “ to you after 25 years. The cynic in me says it’s because they are nervous of disposal costs…..
And the reinstatement of the land, ie removing cables and concrete. I thought the going rate was £1000/ac. are sure £18000 is correct?
 

Exfarmer

Member
Location
Bury St Edmunds
And the reinstatement of the land, ie removing cables and concrete. I thought the going rate was £1000/ac. are sure £18000 is correct?
Modern ground mounts use no concrete only some may be needed for a small substation.
But who would want to scrap it when is generating say 200,000 kwh per acre per year year worth £20,000 at todays prices
This is down from the expected 275,000 KWh expected of a new plant. Might be worth investing in new panels at possibly £125,000 per acreat todays prices to restore the income.
However there is little evidence that panel production declines that much.
 

Dog

Member
Location
Bath
Modern ground mounts use no concrete only some may be needed for a small substation.
But who would want to scrap it when is generating say 200,000 kwh per acre per year year worth £20,000 at todays prices
This is down from the expected 275,000 KWh expected of a new plant. Might be worth investing in new panels at possibly £125,000 per acreat todays prices to restore the income.
However there is little evidence that panel production declines that much.
Where do you get your info. I’d like to look into it more So i can negotiate with the developer knowing the facts. Would be a 60 acre site minimum,
 

Exfarmer

Member
Location
Bury St Edmunds
Where do you get your info. I’d like to look into it more So i can negotiate with the developer knowing the facts. Would be a 60 acre site minimum,
The big thing with all sites is the local district operator ( DNO ) and their view on access to the local network.
If you have a site close where they need more power, then you are good , however such sites are few and far between due to the vagaries of solar.
I think today 60 acres is small for most of the operators
Feel free to PM me if you like
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
Modern ground mounts use no concrete only some may be needed for a small substation.
But who would want to scrap it when is generating say 200,000 kwh per acre per year year worth £20,000 at todays prices
This is down from the expected 275,000 KWh expected of a new plant. Might be worth investing in new panels at possibly £125,000 per acreat todays prices to restore the income.
However there is little evidence that panel production declines that much.
The guys servicing the site here, say that the biggest issue is cable connections packing up on some sites, as they were thrown together with sub standard materials, so corrosion problems follow...

Panel production decline is considered minimal on sites after 10 years, biggest change he reckoned is higher ouputs on modern panels.
 

Exfarmer

Member
Location
Bury St Edmunds
The guys servicing the site here, say that the biggest issue is cable connections packing up on some sites, as they were thrown together with sub standard materials, so corrosion problems follow...

Panel production decline is considered minimal on sites after 10 years, biggest change he reckoned is higher ouputs on modern panels.
Agreed cable connections and not ensuring they are out of the weather is probably the biggest issue.
On roof mounts so often laying in the bottom of the gulleys collecting muck and damp.
 
As title. What are the unforeseen drawbacks. Once the site is up and running what is the value of the the land to sell.( one land agent I spoke to said around 18k/ac)
yearly rent price is based on cost of electric, is there any website that I can get an update price of whole sale electric.

investors will be very happy to buy the lease of you, pensions love them. Not many want the land too, 60 acres is a small site by today’s standards.

the land will probably be valued by capitalising the rent value plus current ag land prices. I’d avoid selling if you can, not f the contract is well worded you can choose if they spend the decommissioning bond and remove all trace of the site or buy it off them for £1
 

Dog

Member
Location
Bath
There is space on the grid, and developer has got a price for connection. Will be asking them to tell me what it is. What is a high and low price connection cost for 18wm.
 
There is space on the grid, and developer has got a price for connection. Will be asking them to tell me what it is. What is a high and low price connection cost for 18wm.
Only planning left then 😂

prices for connection are complex, they may not tell you anyway.

ask for 70k per annum index linked with a top up if production exceeds expectations.
 

Exfarmer

Member
Location
Bury St Edmunds
There is space on the grid, and developer has got a price for connection. Will be asking them to tell me what it is. What is a high and low price connection cost for 18wm.
It is very difficult to give any figure as it so much depends on your position in the network and the cost of upgrading to a location which can accomodate the increased voltage.
If you are close to a large substation it may be quite small, other times it may mean a 25 mile cable underground costing xxxxx£
 

Dog

Member
Location
Bath
About 2 miles. Quarter through farm land and rest through industrial and residential. Is it millions, or hundred thousands.
 

Exfarmer

Member
Location
Bury St Edmunds
About 2 miles. Quarter through farm land and rest through industrial and residential. Is it millions, or hundred thousands.
I really doubt that anyone on here is qualified to give you any idea, particularly as the DNO’s are notorious for pricing these things according to the time of day, and the day of the month.
 
It will be over £1m, hard dig through an industrial could cost that alone.

id not get too hung up on it, so many other build cost variables.

have you agreed HOT with them?

dont hang about, grid offers fluctuate by the day!
 

Dog

Member
Location
Bath
was hoping just to get a price on what other similar size sites would cost to connect. Then if they tell me connection cost is x amount I have an idea if it is high or low for negotiations
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 77 43.5%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 62 35.0%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 28 15.8%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 4 2.3%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,284
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top