If you have a suitable grid connection on your land this makes the project much easier as no third-party wayleaves and access agreements are required. In much of the UK, suitable grid capacity is increasingly difficult to obtain.Īs a developer, we employ grid experts to identify suitable grid connections and investigate what options might be available to make the site work. Again, ask how this will be handled of any potential partner, this decision will have consequences on how likely you are to get consent for the plans.Ī good grid connection and the right topography are keyĪ solar farm or energy storage site will require a 33kV grid connection (as a minimum) with spare capacity in that part of the network. So, early discussion of the plans with the local community is important and a serious developer will support you in this and will take-on board local concerns. Rightly or wrongly, solar development remains a divisive subject and while most people will be supportive of the role that they play in tackling climate change, a minority may see them as damaging the landscape. Do you want to select a partner who is going to develop the project and then sell it on, or is it more important to work with an organisation that will undertake the development and hold the asset and obligations for the long term? If this is something that worries you then do your homework and ask the question right at the start of the development process. It’s quite common for solar farms to change hands and be sold to investors.

Normally grid connection will be secured and will require the developer to begin making payments, at this point it will be very difficult to switch to an alternative developer, so don’t allow the developer to enter into the grid connection agreement until the option agreement has been signed for your land. Once a lease option is signed, the developer will start investing seriously in terms of time and money into the project.

Solar farms will typically have a lifespan of around 40 years, so you need to ensure that your chosen partner is likely to be around for the long term. Robert Barker from Centrica Business Solutions (sister company of British Gas) outlines five golden rules for making a success of diversifying in to solar

Three golden rules of farming