Renewable energy is heating up

Alastair Frew,  partner in Lodders’ Real Estate group and lead the Business Property team, explains why it may be the right time to embrace the opportunities from renewable energy.  

With farming facing ongoing financial challenges, many landowners are looking for ways to introduce new income streams to support them, their family and their business. One way of doing this is by supporting the move to cleaner energy and leasing land for solar or battery storage electricity schemes.  

Solar panels may not be to everyone’s taste, however they are silent, don’t pump out toxins and now provide more than 20% of Britain’s electricity. We see them on new houses and roof-tops, yet we need many more of them in Britain if we are to really make a change.   

This is where farmers can help – and earn extra income too.  

Energy companies will rent your land to install solar panels, meaning your unused land will be put to good use. With the help of a solicitor, you can agree when you would like the land back, any agreements and protection for your land, as well as the rent you will be paid. With the solar panels sitting on frames and hedgerows between the panels, your land can also see the benefit of biodiversity net gain and enhanced wildlife.  

There are also energy companies looking to rent land to build battery energy storage systems, which are networks of shipping container sized buildings that store electricity until it is needed by the National Grid. The energy companies only need small areas of land and they’ll be particularly keen if you have land with an electricity pylon nearby.   

If you have land that is not fully productive, this could be the right time to explore your options and give your land a new purpose.

Lodders’ team of specialists has a wealth of knowledge, and is here to expertly guide you through the legal implications of installing renewable energy. We have helped many clients to start their solar or battery storage journeys, guiding them through the process and protecting their interests.  Find out how we can support you.

This article first appeared in Issue 11 of our client magazine, Lodders Life. Read this and more articles here.