Sunny outlook for solar farm

Sunny outlook for solar farm Greenbuy Energy is extending its operation beyond supplying homes and business premises with renewables, as a change in the law in April means that commercial property owners, including farmers, can now have solar panels put in place on their land without the need for planning permission. "As energy bills continue to soar more and more farmers are becoming interested in ways to save money and, for many, photovoltaic systems are a great option. It is estimated that Mr Woodward's investment in the solar panels will generate a total benefit of £89,000 in twenty-five years. "This has been a family farm for around 120 years so its future is extremely important to me. The company has signed its first agricultural deal with farmer Stephen Woodward, owner of the 200 acre, arable Poplar Farm in Woodall, Sheffield. Greenbuy Energy, based in Dinnington, will fit forty monocrystalline solar panels of 250 watts each on a south-facing barn on the farm. Mr Woodward, 47, said: "There are always economic constraints and pressures on farmers, and as a 200 acre arable site we use a lot of electricity which obviously results in sizeable bills. ". "It makes a large amount of business sense and will go a long way to helping secure the financial future of the farm. Sunny outlook for solar farm Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 10/06/2012