Land Requirements for Solar Farms (2025)
Not all land is suitable for renewable energy. Use this 5-point technical checklist to determine if your site is eligible for a lease.
Grid Connection (The Critical Factor)
The single biggest barrier to entry is grid capacity. Your land must be close to a substation that can accept new generation.
- Target Voltage: 132kV or 400kV (Primary Substations).
- Distance: Ideally within 2.5 miles (4km) "as the crow flies".
- Capacity: The local DNO (Distribution Network Operator) must have "Headroom".
Deal Breaker:
Connection costs rise by ~£1M per mile of cable. Sites >5 miles from a substation are rarely viable.
Minimum Acreage
Solar farms require scale to offset the fixed costs of grid connection and planning.
Solar PV
30+ Acres
Minimum for standard leases.
Requires ~4-5 acres per MW.
Battery Storage
2 - 5 Acres
High density, smaller footprint.
Can be placed on "spare" land.
Topography & Land Quality
Developers prefer "easy" land. The flatter, the better.
- Slope: Must be flat or South-facing. North-facing slopes >5 degrees are often rejected.
- Flood Risk: Zones 2 & 3 are difficult but possible for Solar (panels are raised). Battery storage cannot be in high flood risk zones.
- Agricultural Classification: Grade 1 and 2 (Best and Most Versatile) land is harder to get planning permission for. Grade 3b and 4 is preferred.
Access & Wayleaves
Construction vehicles (HGVs) need 5-meter wide access roads.
If cable routes need to cross a neighbour's land to reach the substation, you will need "Wayleave Agreements". This can complicate and delay projects significantly.
Does your land pass the test?
Use our free tool to check the most important factor: Distance to Grid.