Solar for arable farms
| Load | When it runs | Fit with solar |
|---|---|---|
| Near-ambient drying fans | Days at a time after harvest | Good in late summer and early autumn |
| High-temperature dryers | Harvest, often burner-heated | Fans and elevators only; the heat is usually oil or gas |
| Grain cooling fans | When outside air is cooler than the grain | Weak: often at night |
| Conveyors, elevators, cleaners | Harvest and loading out | Good when in daylight |
| Workshop, offices, farm shop | Year round, working day | Good |
| Irrigation pumps | Sunny, dry spells | Good |
Grain drying and storage loads
AHDB describes two approaches. High-temperature drying uses air heated to at least 40°C. Near-ambient drying blows air up to 5°C warmer than the grain through the bulk, slowly: "typically, 10 days with recommended airflows of 180 m3/hr/tonne" (AHDB). Near-ambient fans are electric and run through the day, which is where solar helps.
Cooling is different. AHDB says cooling should start as soon as grain comes into store, and that differential thermostats, which switch the fan on when the outside air is 4 to 6°C cooler than the grain, give the most rapid, cost-effective and carbon-efficient cooling (AHDB). Cooler air is more common at night, so most cooling hours don't coincide with solar output. AHDB's GrowSave programme has published a grain drying review for growers looking at energy use (AHDB).
See how solar fits your farm's year: book a free site survey.
Book a free site surveySeasonal peaks and export
Solar produces most from April to September: across UK cities, PVGIS puts about two thirds of the year's output in those months (PVGIS). Harvest drying falls in the second half of that window. Outside harvest, an arable farm may use little in the day, so a large array can export much of its output.
- Size for the whole year. Not just harvest week
- Export. Paid under the Smart Export Guarantee in Great Britain, usually at less than you pay to buy
- Other buildings. A farmhouse, let cottages or a farm shop on the same supply may use the surplus
- Battery. Moves midday output to the evening, but not across seasons
Large barn roofs and ground space
Grain stores and barns are often the biggest roofs on the farm, and arable land may offer space for a ground array. Older roofs may be fibre cement and need checking (asbestos cement roofs); a ground array needs planning and cable runs. Rural networks can be weak, so large systems may need an export limit: see grid connection.
Grants and tax relief
Farm grant schemes open and close; see farm solar grants. A farm business that buys the system can usually claim capital allowances. For the wider picture, see solar for farms.
Sources
AHDB's grain drying, grain cooling and GrowSave pages were read, and PVGIS 5.3 queried, on 2 November 2026.