Solar Farm Protection

At the time of writing, the new Labour Government has been in power for less than two weeks and has already given the go-ahead for three massive new solar farms in Eastern England. 

This news builds on an announcement made by the previous administration at the start of 2024, whereby farmers can claim substantial grants to enable them to install solar panels on farm roofs and reservoirs on their land.

This is, of course, all well and good, and represents a significant step forward in the drive to net zero and the increased availability of clean, renewable energy. But installing solar panels isn’t just good news for the environment and the fight against climate change; it also provides cheaper electricity for businesses that use them to power their operations.

The Improving Farm Productivity (IFP) scheme

The new grants are being made under a scheme called Improved Farm Productivity (IFP). The grants available will contribute 25% of the capital cost involved in installing numerous elements and components that are needed to generate solar energy.

These include:

• The solar PV panels
• Storage for batteries
• Utility meters
• Connections to the electrical grid

It’s worth pointing out here that these grants specifically apply to the types mentioned above – those on farmland roofs and reservoirs. They don’t apply to solar farms – which is a shame, because their start-up cost is pretty hefty.

The cost of solar farms

Let’s not mess about here – solar farms are not cheap to install. According to Lumify Energy, you’ll be looking at set-up costs of about £7.5 million for a 100-acre site with a capacity of 20MW. 

The panels themselves represent some of the most significant cost involved, but, on the other hand, the price of photovoltaic cells has dropped considerably and they’re also far more efficient than they used to be.

In the end, Lumify’s research suggests that, if you have the land available and someone with the capital to make that significant initial investment, the long-term rewards can make it worth it.

Protecting your investment

Whether it’s your money that’s been invested into the project or that of a partner, the last thing you want is for your expensive solar panels to be stolen. Unfortunately, they are a tempting target and incidents of solar panel theft from solar farms have become a significant problem. Police figures from 2022 showed a 48% increase in theft of solar panels and cabling from UK solar farms – and it’s not getting any better.

Here at Scutum South East, we have a range of simple but effective solutions that can help protect your solar panels from the risk of theft. From perimeter sensor alarm systems to a range of modern CCTV cameras, we provide practical answers to the problem of deterring and catching those seeking to commit crime in rural areas that are hard to otherwise effectively police.

Don’t take chances with your expensive solar equipment. Talk to us today about how our extensive range of security and surveillance systems can be used against those seeking to steal your valuable solar panels. We provide security systems and solutions for customers across the South East of England, including in and around London and Surrey.