The Farming Transition: Embracing clean energy for farming’s future

By John Sturman, Managing Director of NatPower UK

Farmers in the UK are facing major threats to their livelihoods. Climate change is now having significant impacts, already making rainfall more intense and frequent, impacting crop yields with a cost of almost £1 billion this year alone.

Adding to the ever increasing climate problems, profit margins are being squeezed by high costs of energy, fertiliser and animal feed, as well as significant decreases in agricultural subsidies (since 2021). Crop and Livestock purchasers and consumers are also demanding higher sustainability standards.

However, the clean energy transition provides the key opportunity for farmers to future-proof their farming.

Accommodating renewable energy infrastructure provides a substantial additional source of secure revenue, safeguarding against the insecurities of crop price fluctuations and changes to existing subsidies. Combining income from renewables with sustainable farming practices would create new, resilient business models whilst also mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Unlocking renewable energy for a resilient future

The UK Government is aiming to make Britain a clean energy superpower, to address climate change, attract investment, lower bills, make prices more stable, and improve energy security. Farmers are well positioned to benefit from and play a vital role in this green transition.

Using only 3 per cent of land in England, the UK could produce 13 times more renewable power. Landowners leasing their land for solar panels and wind turbines will play a key part in unlocking this potential, while providing a stable, long-term source of income for themselves. With the Government driving forward the removal of the de facto ban of onshore wind in England and aiming to double the UK’s onshore wind generation capacity and triple solar power capacity by 2030, farmers can seize the opportunities this provides.

Combining this renewable energy generation infrastructure with battery energy storage systems (BESS) unlocks additional benefits. These projects enable the country to better utilise its domestically-produced renewable energy – resolving the intermittency of renewable generation – reducing energy costs and strengthening energy security. These storage projects can also provide an extra source of revenue for farmers.

In addition, hosting these projects can deliver significant environmental uplift for the farm and enable the deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on-site to provide the infrastructure required for net positive farming, and future proof operations for using electric tractors and agricultural machinery. This shift would ensure farmers can satisfy future supply contracts and position them ahead of competitors less able to meet sustainability criteria.

The additional revenue a renewables project provides also enables investment in farming activities, such as the purchase of new, modern machinery, as well as the opportunity to increase farm size.

Leading on nature-positive land use

Farmers are uniquely well-positioned to help the Government achieve its clean energy, energy security, and biodiversity goals, especially as much of the land used for onshore wind projects can support multiple land uses that actively enhance on-site biodiversity. Research has shown that transitioning to renewable energy can reduce the risk of biodiversity loss by 75 per cent.

Since February of this year, it has been mandated that all new clean energy developments must deliver biodiversity and nature uplift on the land hosting them. NatPower UK, for example, is committed to providing a biodiversity net gain of more than 20 per cent with all its clean energy projects across the country. This includes planting wildflower meadows, enhancing existing hedgerows, planting new hedgerows and native trees, enhancing drainage and streams.  These design choices improve soil health and satisfy land stewardship needs. They also help protect and restore the overall farm.

In addition, the integration of livestock grazing and regenerative agricultural practices onto the land that hosts projects allows agricultural activity to continue throughout the land’s lease, aids biodiversity on-site, and improves soil health – enabling farmers to safeguard the livelihoods of future generations.

Future-proofing British farming

Although UK farmers face challenges from climate change, tough economic conditions, and evolving consumer demands, the opportunities provided by the energy transition far outweigh those challenges. By embracing them, farmers can become key actors in providing food and energy for future generations, whilst capitalising on the clean energy transition.

The green transition can provide a wide range of solutions that enable them to future-proof their farms via new, sustainable business models. Deploying clean technologies – like solar panels, wind turbines and BESS – on their land will provide them with additional sources of revenue, safeguarding their livelihoods.

As the sun rises on this new era, no sector is better placed to help the Government deliver its clean energy, energy security and biodiversity goals than farming. By embracing clean technologies and sustainable practices, farmers can cultivate not only the crops of today but the solutions of tomorrow.