Solar Panels for Stables, Livery Yards and Equestrian Centres

What uses power at a yard, and when

The Valuation Office lists the facilities that come with equestrian properties: horse walkers, outdoor and indoor arenas, jump paddocks, wash-down facilities, solariums, storage, offices and tack rooms (VOA). Here is how they line up with solar:

Lighting, water heating and arenas

Solar output follows the seasons. PVGIS gives a south-facing panel in Birmingham about 33 kWh per kW in December against about 117 in June (PVGIS), and none at all after dark. A yard whose biggest bill is floodlights on winter evenings will use little of its solar directly.

• Move what you can into the day. Run the horse walker, wash-down heaters and charging while the panels are producing.
• Cut the lighting load first. LED floodlights and timers reduce what the panels or a battery need to cover.
• Consider a battery. It stores midday output for the evening. Whether it pays depends on how much summer and spring output you would otherwise export.

See commercial battery storage and how much electricity solar produces.

Stable roofs and outbuildings

Stable blocks, barns and indoor arenas often have long, simple roofs. What decides whether they can take panels:

• Structure. The MCS standard requires the roof structure to be checked for the loads, and a structural engineer where it is unusual, altered or in doubt (MIS 3002).
• Roof material and fire. The British Horse Society notes that brick and tile stables behave better in a fire, while wood and felt or corrugated roofing burns and deforms quickly. Panels over horses need careful design and an insurer's view.
• Asbestos. Older fibre cement sheeting may contain asbestos and can't simply be drilled. See our guide to asbestos cement roofs.
• The ground. A ground array beside the yard keeps panels off older roofs and away from the horses, but needs planning permission at business size.

Sources: MCS, British Horse Society. More: asbestos roofs, fire risk and insurance and ground-mounted solar.

Horses, fire safety and installation work

• Plan the work around the yard. Agree which boxes, paddocks and walkways are out of use while scaffolding goes up and panels are lifted, and keep vehicles away from turnout.
• Noise and movement. Scaffolding and roof work are noisy; move nervous horses to quieter boxes or turn them out away from the work.
• Cables and kit. Inverters, isolators and cable runs well out of reach of horses and rodents, and away from hay and bedding.
• Fire risk assessment. The British Horse Society says the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to stables where people work, livery yards and equestrian centres, so a business must carry out a fire risk assessment. Update it for the new installation.
• Electrics checked. The BHS recommends electrics are tested at least once a year by a qualified electrician, and flags circuits that have been added to as a fire risk. Ask for the solar to be included.

Source: British Horse Society, Stable fire safety.

Business rates and planning

Rates. The Valuation Office says almost all non-domestic properties are liable for business rates, private stables usually included, and that reliefs mean most private stables don't pay any (VOA). Either way, in England plant used to generate power mainly from renewable sources is left out of the rating valuation until 31 March 2035 (SI 2022/405), with matching rules in Wales and Scotland. See solar panels and business rates.

Planning. In England, panels on a non-domestic building such as a stable block or arena are permitted development within height and edge limits, with prior approval over 50 kW (Class J). Stand-alone panels are limited to 9 square metres (Class K), so a paddock array needs an application. See planning permission.

Paying for it

An equestrian business that buys a system can usually claim capital allowances against its profits; see capital allowances. A yard that is part of a farm business should also check farm solar grants, and every business local grants by area. Loans and leasing: paying for commercial solar.