Renting land to install solar panels

Can I rent land for a solar farm?

Renting land for a solar farm is a commercial lease and is not an agricultural use, so Agricultural Property Relief from inheritance tax may be lost. Transferring ownership of the land to another individual or trading entity before any development starts may be worth considering, to minimise the tax implications, but seek professional advice.

How do I lease solar panels?

You can also lease the land to a company, university, or municipality that purchases the solar panels outright. Or you can lease your land to a solar developer like Verogy, who owns the solar panels and sells the energy to a company, university, or municipality through a power purchase agreement (PPA).

How much does a solar farm land lease cost?

With solar farm land lease rents ranging from £850-£1100 (depending on variables such as development size and location) per acre per annum, rental rates compare favourably with other income streams such as agricultural and livestock farming, event hosting and storage services.

Should you lease land for solar power?

Here’s the essentials: leasing land for solar power is a mutually beneficial deal between landowners and solar energy developers. While developers gain a new solar plant, the landowners gain a stable, long-term revenue stream from unused or underused plots. There’s a third beneficiary – the UK itself, which gains increased clean energy capacity.

How do I choose a solar panel farm?

First, take a look at your land. If it’s a flat, open space that’s 20 to 25 acres, your land is a good candidate for an average-sized solar panel farm. You should also know that once a solar developer installs the solar panels, they’ll have very little impact on the physical state of your land.

How does solar land lease work?

Land rental is paid per acre and compares favourably with other uses (including agricultural leasing). Solar land lease revenue streams provide financial certainty and can play a vital role in ensuring families maintain ownership of their farms and estates into the future.