Two different solar panel technologies, one traditional and one new to the UK, were installed on adjacent farm buildings in Dorset. Side by side it was easy to monitor like for like performance and to announce one clear winner in energy generation by a staggering 25%.

CIS Thin Film technology solar panels were introduced to the UK in early 2012 by a Poole-based renewable energy specialist. The technology is said to be able to generate energy in low light conditions, and from early in the morning till late into the evening. Arable and livestock farms for the Crown Estate have had the technology fitted, as well as independents such as an arable farm in Blandford Forum in Dorset.

The first installation for the Blandford Farm was in the traditional polycrystalline solar panel technology, which performed so well that the farmer decided to invest in a second system on an adjacent farm building of more than double the size. This time, CIS Thin Film technology solar panel technology were installed, and to prove their efficiency against the traditional panel on the adjacent building. Although new to the UK, the panel itself has been widely used in a broad range of countries where temperatures are similar - such as in Europe and also hot climates such as the Far East and Middle East.

One year later and the CIS Thin Film technology solar panels, monitored on a like for like size basis, have provided the farmer with 25% increased energy production over the traditional panel - and therefore 25% more savings in electricity costs and a 25% increase in the government FiT subsidy. Energy generation of 974.53 kilowatts per year was achieved using the traditional panel technology, against 1209.60 kilowatts per year with CIS Thin Film.

Simon Meaden, owner of the Blandford farm, is now embarking on a third solar panel installation with Save Energy Group, five times the size of the second and once again adopting the CIS Thin Film panel. “I have been able to monitor performance on a daily basis, for each system, and when it came to my latest investment in solar energy I was keen to look again at how the cost, savings and returns stacked up using this technology.