Northfield House Farm is an active working farm in Leicestershire with substantial energy demands spread across a range of on-site operations. With electricity costs continuing to rise, the farm's owners were looking for a practical, long-term solution that would reduce their reliance on grid power and generate a clear return on investment.
Following an initial site survey, ProStar Energy designed and installed a solar PV system tailored to the farm's specific energy profile and available land, completed on time and within budget.
System Size: 60 kWp
Total Installation Cost: £50,000
First-Year Energy Savings: £12,620
Annual ROI: 25.24%
Estimated Payback Period: 3 years 10 months
Annual Carbon Offset: 13 tonnes of CO₂
Challenges and Solutions
Agricultural sites present a different set of considerations to a standard rooftop installation. Energy demand at Northfield House Farm is not evenly distributed throughout the day or across the year. Seasonal variation in farm activity, the spread of power loads across multiple buildings and yard equipment, and the need to minimise any disruption to ongoing operations all required careful planning at the design stage.
The ProStar team carried out a thorough site survey before any system design work began. This allowed the engineers to map actual energy consumption patterns against the available solar resource on site, and to position the array where it would generate most effectively throughout the year. Rather than applying a generic system size, the 60 kWp capacity was arrived at by working backwards from the farm's energy data, ensuring the output would be well matched to demand.
Working on an active agricultural site also requires careful attention to access routes, ongoing farm operations, and the need to leave the site fully functional throughout. These considerations were built into the project plan from the outset, and installation was completed with minimal disruption to the day-to-day running of the farm.
Key Results
The system has performed well from its first year of operation. An annual saving of over £12,600 represents a substantial reduction in one of the farm's most significant running costs, and the payback period of under four years gives the owners a reliable timeline for full return on their capital investment. The system is expected to continue generating at a high level well beyond that point.
The carbon offset of 13 tonnes of CO₂ each year reflects the scale of what a well-sized commercial solar installation can achieve in terms of emissions reduction. This is increasingly relevant for farms operating within supply chains that require environmental reporting.
Conclusion
The Northfield House Farm project is a good example of what thorough upfront work delivers in practice. The system was sized correctly because the survey was done properly, and the results reflect that.
For farms and rural businesses facing sustained pressure on energy costs, solar PV offers a straightforward route to greater energy independence and a measurable improvement in operating margins. The key is in the detail of the assessment: the right system on the right site, designed around actual consumption rather than assumptions.
If you operate a farm, agricultural business, or rural commercial site and want to understand what solar could realistically deliver, the first step is a conversation with our team. We offer free site surveys across Southern England and will give you an honest assessment of what is achievable for your property.
Get in touch with ProStar Energy by clicking the button below or call us on 03316 302 225 to arrange your free site survey.
