Why Lightrock Solar?

Solar is the most abundant and readily available energy source in the world, which helps make it one of the cheapest to harvest. The fact that we can do that without emitting Carbon Dioxide means that solar farms are directly helping to improve the UK’s impact in the fight against climate change.  

Carbon Efficient

Research has shown that the average carbon payback period for the production and installation of solar panels is one to four years. Over their lifetime, typically 40 years, each panel will generate zero-carbon and zero-pollution electricity for decades after any carbon emitted in its production has been paid back. Manufacturing processes will continue to advance, so the carbon payback period for solar will decrease further. Made primarily of aluminium, glass and silicon, the components are easy to recycle at the end of their life. 

Home-Grown.

Using locally sourced energy reduces the cost to the consumer. It doesn’t need to travel as far to reach your home, and less is lost along the way. Locally sourced energy also plays a crucial role in reducing our reliance on Russia and the EU. 

Food Security - a myth!

Studies have debunked the myth that efficient modern solar farms pose a threat to UK food security. The UK Government’s Food Security Report, published in 2024 states “It is plausible that with continued growth in output and conducive market conditions, that food production levels could be maintained or moderately increased alongside the land use change required to meet our Net Zero and Environment Act targets and commitments.”

President for the National Farmer’s Union (NFU), Tom Bradshaw, agrees and condemns sensationalist claims about food security. “It’s a small amount of land which is being taken out of production”. In fact, more UK land is taken up by golf courses than solar farms. 

Back to Farming

Lightrock typically seek planning permission for 40 years. There is a legal requirement that the land is returned to its original use at the end of the lease, and money is set aside to ensure that the infrastructure can be quickly and easily removed. The land returns to farming as greenfield land, not brownfield, as is sometimes believed. 

Thriving Wildlife

Recent English planning law requires each new development to achieve a biodiversity net gain (BNG) of at least 10%. Lightrock have always aimed to far exceed that, often reaching scores of over 100% BNG. One reason for such high BNG on solar farms is that they’re often starting from a very low base score. Well-worked, farmland that needs a rest, often doesn’t have any biodiversity left. Often the poor biodiversity was unknowingly increased by some outdated farming practices in the past. 

Solar funded enhancements such as wildflower strips, tussocky grassland, mammal gates, and reptile habitat creation can bring wildlife back in its droves. It is even possible for arable farmland near well managed solar farms to enhance its yield of crops due to the large increase in pollinators created by the habitat provided. 

No moving parts.

Because solar farms have no moving parts, they are quiet and require little maintenance. Typically maintenance visits happen twice a month, but it is rare that any repairs are required. The grass surrounding the infrastructure on Lightrock solar farms is typically grazed by sheep, so no mowing is required. There is evidence to show that sheep living within the shelter of solar farms are more relaxed, and therefore produce a better quality of wool than those living without the shelter that the panels provide. 

Soil improved due to minimal land disturbance 

Lightrock mount solar panels on C shaped pile-driven frames, so there is very little land disturbance. It’s estimated that less than 0.3% of the soil over-sailed by a solar farm is impacted. Combined with conservation grazing, it means that the soil quality is actually improved over the years, ready for when the land is returned to farming.