Will more solar farms impact the future of farming and agriculture?

The subject of affordable, renewable energy has never been more important. More solar farms could be the answer, but how will that impact the future of farming and agriculture? Sarah Lee looks at both sides of the argument in this article from our membership magazine, My Countryside.

A hot topic in the Countryside Alliance inbox and at the most recent party conference season was the growth of solar energy, in particular the use of prime agricultural land to site solar farms without proper consideration of the impact on food security and the countryside. While everyone was supportive of the principle of solar energy, there was a clear message being sent back to politicians that we need to think carefully about where we site solar farms, the planning regulations involved and how we can make better use of brownfield sites, existing buildings and new-build properties.

Climate change and the current global political instability are understandably driving the need for a diverse and sustainable energy portfolio, which the majority of people support, including the Countryside Alliance. We recognise how important it is to encourage and support the growth of renewable energy projects and for the UK to have a mix of sustainable energy to tackle the impact on the environment other forms of energy have had. However, while the significant growth in recent years of solar projects has helped meet this need, it has not been without controversy and is an area that is also having a significant impact on the countryside. For instance, the clustering of developments around sub-stations has consequences for local landscapes and amenities, and the cumulative effect intensifies the harm caused. While it is regularly argued that you can graze sheep around solar panels there are questions about whether that grazing will still be viable in three or four years' time. There are also questions about whether the land used for solar farms will ever return to agriculture.

The government has reacted to public concern with proposals to extend the types of land designated as Best and Most Versatile (BMV) and therefore protected from development. The suggestion made by former Defra secretary Ranil Jayawardena (appointed under former Prime Minister Liz Truss) would see solar panel installations blocked on large parts of England's farmland. Mr Jayawardena was reportedly considering the move amid concerns over food security, to ensure that productive farmland is not developed. However, a new Defra secretary, Thérèse Coffey, has been appointed by new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and we await to see whether the government continues with these proposals, but the problem and principle will remain the same.

Building solar farms on productive farmland will have an impact on our food security. This is not to say there should be a blanket ban on siting them on farmland, but the Alliance believes there should be more consideration of the social and cultural impact of solar developments on productive agricultural land and that policy should generally prioritise solar on other land and as part of housing and commercial development. Mr Jayawardena's proposals to include Grade 3b land could mean that more than half of the total farmland area would then be classified as BMV and would subject solar farm projects to more stringent planning reviews. Grade 3b land is defined as moderate quality land capable of producing moderate cereal yields and lower yields of crops such as rape, potatoes or sugar beet.

Understandably, the solar industry has hit back and said the allegations that solar panels were a threat to the UK's food security were based on "false and baseless claims". Solar Energy UK argued that solar farms defended food supply because they addressed climate change which was identified by Defra as the biggest threat to food security. A Solar Energy UK spokesperson said: "Solar power is the answer to so many needs and policy demands. It will cut energy bills, deliver energy security, boost growth and help rural economies." And he said that even if five times as many solar farms were built, they would occupy less than 0.3 per cent of UK land – less than half the amount occupied by golf courses.

Whatever the outcome of this debate, what is clear is that solar energy is an important part of the UK's sustainable energy mix and the Alliance's approach is that we must prioritise the growth of solar projects on brownfield sites, roofs and new-builds which should reduce the pressure for solar farms on productive agricultural land. Food security and energy security are two key issues facing this country and they must be tackled together, with the countryside playing its part to deliver sustainable environmental and economic growth.