Traditional farming isn’t easy. You’re battling against rising overheads, reduced government support, and competitive product pricing that is driving down profit margins. If you’re a farmer or landowner, you might be wondering whether there’s a more profitable way of repurposing your land.
Meet solar farming. The renewable energy revolution is producing a form of passive income that can allow farmers to earn up to four times more than traditional farming without doing any work. If you’ve come across this article, the chances are that you’re a farmer considering matching the switch from traditional farming to solar farming.
We’re breaking down the process of what’s involved with switching to solar farming and what you can expect. If you’re looking to make passive income, repurpose your land, or jump on the renewable’s bandwagon, Green Switch Capital is here to help.
How solar farming works
Imagine a farm that stretches for acres upon acres. Instead of being home to cattle or lined with hay, this farm plays host to rows upon rows of solar panels. These panels are mounted to the ground and set up to the optimum angle to allow them to harness the sun’s solar energy, converting it into electricity.
Solar farming is the most cost-effective way of gathering solar energy, outperforming small solar panel set-ups, including those placed on rooftops and small community areas. By using farmland, solar energy benefits from the scale of economics, making it more affordable to produce while creating renewable energy on a larger scale.
The openness of a field is the ideal spot for solar panels as it removes obstructions, such as buildings, that can make it harder for the sunlight to directly reach the solar panels. The electricity is then connected to the electric grid or stored in optimal energy storage for use in the local area.
With rising energy prices and growing demand for renewable energy, switching to solar farming can make traditional farmers between three to four times more than what they’re currently making. If you’re downbeat about the race to the bottom within traditional farming, it’s time to make a switch to the future of the industry.
How much energy does solar farming produce?
Renewable energy is the future – and farmland represents an area of untapped potential to help us switch from fossil fuels to renewables. With one acre of solar panels producing around 350 MWh of electrical energy each year, it’s easy to see where the future of solar farming is going.
But installing solar panels on your property can be expensive – especially when you’re looking to cover at least 40 acres of land. If you’re not able to cover the up-front cost of installing solar panels, you’re not without options. At Green Switch Capital, we know recent years have been difficult for traditional farming – from Brexit to the race to the bottom on pricing.
That’s why we offer farmers a more accessible and zero-cost way of entering the solar farming industry. Our programme is unique as it allows you to receive passive income by leasing your land to us for the installation of solar panels.
Why farmers are switching from seeds to solar
Farms tend to be handed down from one generation to the next. These families have a rich history within the farming industry – so what makes them want to switch? For most farmers, the decision to turn to solar farming is for the added security of passive income and the peace of mind of a steady, consistent income stream. It’s the first time that many farmers will know exactly how much they’ll make at the end of a month.
Unpredictable weather, the pandemic, and the loss of EU agricultural support packages mean that farmers are more downbeat than ever about the future of traditional farming. For many of them, solar farming is proving to be a vital lifeline to keep their farms alive. You don’t have to turn your back entirely on traditional farming. Depending on the size of your farm, you can continue to grow vegetables or farm cattle alongside solar farming.
There’s also the environmental factor to consider. Research from the Oregon State University has found that less than one percent of the world’s agricultural land would be sufficient for producing enough electricity to meet global demand if used to house solar panels. That’s an extraordinary statistic.
How to make the switch to solar farming
At Green Switch Capital, we want to make sure the sun is always shining on your farm. Our solar energy programme is straightforward and streamlines the transition from traditional to solar farming. You’ll earn up to four times more income without having to put boots on the ground – all while helping the country become more environmentally friendly.
Our solar energy initiative provides you with a guaranteed income of up to £1,200 per acre per year. In an industry notorious for its instability, solar farming is one of the only forms of consistent and guaranteed income for farmers. Our price is guaranteed for the next 30-40 years, giving you the ultimate peace of mind that your passive income will keep flooding in.
What makes Green Switch Capital unique is that we don’t ask for a penny from you – and we never will. In exchange for renting your land for our solar panels, we’ll cover the initial planning and legal cost. We’ll even be overseeing the installation, infrastructure, and maintenance of the solar panels. All you have to do is agree to lease us at least 75 acres of land for the next 30-40 years. It’s that easy.
By switching to solar farming, you can give your land a new purpose or cut off a portion of your farm to be used for renewable energy. You can continue to use the rest of your farm and benefit directly from the renewable energy being produced on your land. You can find out more about the process of switching from traditional to solar farming here.