Solar Panel Installers in Hull & East Yorkshire: A Guide for Farm Businesses
East Yorkshire is one of England's most productive arable counties, and its farms are increasingly turning to solar power to cut energy costs and future-proof their operations. This guide covers what to look for in a local solar installer and highlights a trusted regional partner for the Hull and Humber area.
Why East Yorkshire Farms Are Investing in Solar
The East Riding of Yorkshire is home to a significant concentration of arable farming operations — from the rolling Wolds to the flat, productive fields of the Holderness Plain. Grain stores, grain drying systems, crop irrigation, and machinery buildings all consume substantial electricity, creating a compelling case for solar generation across the region.
Hull and the surrounding East Riding benefit from better solar irradiance than many assume for a northern region. Average annual solar radiation across East Yorkshire sits at around 950–1,000 kWh per kWp, meaning a 50 kWp system on a typical grain store or machinery shed can generate 47,000–50,000 kWh annually — enough to offset a significant proportion of a mid-sized arable farm's electricity consumption.
Choosing a Solar Installer in the Hull Area
When selecting a solar installer for a farm building in Hull or the wider East Yorkshire area, there are several factors specific to agricultural installations that are worth prioritising:
MCS Certification
MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certification is a prerequisite for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), which allows you to earn payments for surplus electricity exported to the National Grid. Any credible agricultural solar installer in East Yorkshire should hold full MCS certification. Always verify this independently via the MCS certificate checker before committing to a quote.
Experience with Agricultural Buildings
Farm buildings present different structural and regulatory challenges compared to domestic or commercial rooftops. Older steel portal-frame grain stores and livestock buildings may require structural surveys before panel installation. DNO (Distribution Network Operator) grid connection processes for larger agricultural systems can also be more complex than domestic connections. An installer with genuine agricultural experience will navigate these requirements efficiently.
Local DNO Knowledge
East Yorkshire falls within the Northern Powergrid distribution area. Larger agricultural systems — particularly those above 3.68 kW per phase — require a formal G99 grid connection application with Northern Powergrid, which can take several months to process. A locally experienced installer will understand typical timescales, grid constraints in different postcode areas, and how to optimise system design to avoid costly reinforcement requirements.
Trusted Local Partner: Yeers
For agricultural and rural businesses in Hull and East Yorkshire, we recommend Yeers as a trusted local solar and renewable energy contractor.
Yeers are a Humber-region renewable energy specialist covering solar panel installation, battery storage systems, and EV charging infrastructure for residential, agricultural, and commercial clients. Their team brings a practical, grounded approach to renewable energy projects — from initial survey through to commissioning and aftercare.
Their local knowledge of the Hull and East Yorkshire area makes them well-placed to advise on everything from Northern Powergrid connection requirements to planning considerations for farm buildings on the Wolds. We trust Yeers to deliver the same standard of care to their customers that we aim to deliver to ours.
Solar on East Yorkshire Farm Buildings: What to Expect
Grain Stores and Machinery Buildings
The Wolds and Holderness are dominated by arable farming, and large-span grain store roofs represent some of the best solar real estate in the county. A 100 kWp system on a modern grain store — installed on a south or south-west facing roof — can generate around 90,000–95,000 kWh per year, with peak output coinciding neatly with the late summer harvest and drying season when electricity demand peaks.
Livestock Buildings
Cattle, sheep, and pig enterprises across East Yorkshire also benefit from solar, particularly where ventilation, water heating, or automated feeding systems run continuously. Steel-clad cattle sheds and covered yards offer large, relatively unshaded roof areas that lend themselves well to solar panel installation.
Indicative System Sizes for East Yorkshire Farm Buildings
- Single grain store: 50–100 kWp, generating £9,000–£22,000/yr in bill savings
- Multi-building arable farm: 150–250 kWp, generating £28,000–£55,000/yr in savings
- Livestock building: 30–80 kWp, generating £6,000–£18,000/yr in savings
Estimates based on 950 kWh/kWp/yr generation and electricity at 25p/kWh. Actual figures depend on building orientation, shading, and your tariff.
Grants and Funding for Hull & East Yorkshire Farms
Arable and livestock farms across East Yorkshire can access several funding streams to offset solar installation costs:
- Farming Investment Fund (FIF): The Productivity and Infrastructure Grant covers eligible renewable energy equipment. Check current round availability at the Rural Payments Agency website.
- Smart Export Guarantee (SEG): Ongoing payments for electricity exported to the grid. Rates from major suppliers currently range from 3p to 15p per kWh.
- Enhanced Capital Allowances: First-year tax deduction on qualifying solar equipment, benefiting profitable farm businesses.
Next Steps for Hull & East Yorkshire Farmers
If you operate a farm business in Hull, Beverley, Driffield, Bridlington, Goole, or elsewhere in the East Riding, solar panels on your farm buildings represent one of the most reliable capital investments available in 2025.
We recommend starting with a free site survey from a qualified local installer. For the Hull and East Yorkshire area, Yeers are our trusted regional partner. You can also view our Hull location page for more information on agricultural solar in the area, or contact our national team if your project requires a larger-scale agricultural installer.
