Solar Surveys.UK

Solar for poultry and pig units

Solar Panels for Poultry and Pig Farms

1 of 10
  • The best option for your business
  • One vetted MCS installer
  • A free site survey

What kind of survey would you like?

Six quick taps, then where to reach you.

Poultry and pig units run ventilation, lighting, feeding and, for young stock, heating every day of the year. Their long, uniform shed roofs can carry large arrays, and fans work hardest on the warm, bright days when panels produce most. The two things to plan carefully are the roof structure and biosecurity during installation. Checked against AHDB and GOV.UK on 2 November 2026.

Free site survey: we match you with one MCS certified installer who covers your area and the size of the job. Your details go to that installer only, so you're not passed around or ring-rounded.

  • 130+ UK installers
  • MCS certified only
  • Free survey, no obligation
  • One installer, not a list of callers

Ventilation, heating and lighting loads

Typical electrical loads in poultry and pig units
LoadWhen it runsFit with solar
Ventilation fansAll year, hardest in warm weatherGood: peaks on bright, warm days
Heating for young stockBrooding chicks, piglets and weanersWhere electric, solar covers daylight hours
LightingSet programmes, often long hoursPartly, depending on the programme
Feed and water systemsThrough the dayGood
Egg packing, grading and cold storesWorking dayGood

For pigs, AHDB says heating in England is normally only used for young pigs, with older pigs kept warm by controlled minimum ventilation and insulation (AHDB); that lighting affects performance and welfare and also contributes to energy use on farm (AHDB); and that control systems keeping temperature and ventilation steady reduce energy waste (AHDB).

Long shed roofs

  • Size. Long, uniform roofs take large arrays with simple layouts
  • Structure. Older sheds may not take the extra load; the survey checks purlins and fixings
  • Fibre cement. Older roofs may contain asbestos and are often fragile: see our asbestos roof guide
  • Ventilation openings. Ridge vents and fans have to stay clear of panels
  • Dust and ammonia. Exhaust air from sheds can soil panels near the vents, so cleaning needs planning

See asbestos cement roofs and solar maintenance.

See what your sheds could generate: book a free site survey.

Book a free site survey

Biosecurity during installation

An installation brings vehicles, scaffolding and people onto the unit. Agree a plan with the installer before anyone arrives:

  • Access. A route that keeps contractors and vehicles away from the stock and feed areas
  • Cleaning. Vehicle and equipment cleaning and disinfection on arrival
  • Clothing. Protective clothing and footwear, footdips where you use them
  • Timing. Between batches, at turnaround, where possible
  • Records. A visitor log, as for any contractor

When an avian influenza prevention zone is in force, GOV.UK says bird keepers are legally required to follow stringent biosecurity measures (GOV.UK). Check the current position before booking the work.

Climate Change Agreements

GOV.UK lists intensive pig and poultry farming among the sectors with Climate Change Agreements (GOV.UK). Units in one pay a reduced rate of Climate Change Levy in return for meeting energy or carbon targets; the new scheme runs to 31 March 2033 (statutory guidance). Electricity from your own panels is not bought from a supplier, so it carries no levy.

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, and rooftop solar is left out of business rates valuations in England, Scotland and Wales until 2035 (business rates). Large arrays on rural networks may need export limits: see grid connection. For the wider picture, see solar for farms.

Sources

AHDB's pig housing pages, GOV.UK bird flu guidance and the GOV.UK CCA pages were read on 2 November 2026.

Matching

How we choose your installer

We match you with one of 130+ MCS certified installers across the UK, and only those who pass our checks.

  1. 1

    We talk to you about the site and how the business uses electricity.

  2. 2

    Installers who cover your area see the project without your name or contact details.

  3. 3

    Our team picks the one best placed for it, by area, the size of the job and MCS certification.

  4. 4

    Only that installer gets your details, and they book the survey with you.

  5. 5

    Not right for you? Tell us.

What we check before we match you

  • MCS certification: current, and on the MCS installer register.
  • Other accreditations they hold, for example NICEIC or NAPIT, RECC and TrustMark. We favour installers with more relevant accreditations.
  • Their customer reviews on public review sites.
  • How long they have been trading, and that the company is active at Companies House with its accounts filed.
  • Stability: no frequent changes of directors in recent years.
  • That they cover your area and do jobs of your size.

If an installer doesn't meet these, we don't match them.

Four steps

What happens next

Book a free site survey and we match your site with one MCS certified installer that covers your area and the size of job. Four steps from a short call to a survey at your site.

  1. 1

    Book a call

    Fill in the short form. A member of our UK team calls you to ask about the site and how the business uses electricity.

  2. 2

    We check it's a fit

    Ownership or landlord consent, your energy spend, the roof or land and your electricity supply, so nobody's time is wasted.

  3. 3

    Matched with one installer

    Installers who cover your area see the project without your name or contact details. Our team picks the one best placed for it, and only they get your details.

  4. 4

    Your free site survey

    The installer visits at a time that suits you, looks at the site and gives you their proposal. Whether you go ahead is up to you.

Questions

Solar for poultry and pig farms: FAQs

Are solar panels worth it for a poultry or pig unit?

Often. Housed livestock need ventilation, lighting, feeding systems and, for young animals, heat, every day of the year, and long shed roofs give room for a lot of panels. Fans work hardest on warm, bright days when panels produce most. A survey looks at your own bills or half-hourly data to size the system.

Do pig units use a lot of heating?

Mainly for young pigs. AHDB says that in England heating is normally only used for young pigs, and that older pigs (finishers over 30 kg) are kept at the right temperature through controlled minimum ventilation and insulation. Where heat lamps or heat pads are electric, solar can supply part of them in daylight.

How do installers deal with biosecurity?

The same way any contractor should: agree access routes, vehicle cleaning and disinfection, protective clothing and timing with you before they arrive, and keep away from the birds or pigs. When an avian influenza prevention zone is in force, GOV.UK says stringent biosecurity is a legal requirement for bird keepers, so build that into the installation plan.

Can we get a Climate Change Agreement?

GOV.UK lists intensive pig and poultry farming among the sectors with Climate Change Agreements, which give a reduced rate of Climate Change Levy in return for energy or carbon targets. The new scheme runs to 31 March 2033, and you apply through your sector association.

Book a free site survey for your unit

Tell us about the unit, the sheds and your biosecurity arrangements. We'll call to go through the checks, then arrange the survey with one MCS certified installer.

  • Free to your business
  • No obligation
  • Your details go to one installer only
Book my free site survey

Free, no obligation

We match you with one of 130+ MCS certified installers across the UK, and only those who pass our checks.

Your sector

Solar for other kinds of business site, and our guides for business owners. Commercial solar for businesses

Guides for business owners