Solar Grid Check

Grid Viability Assessment

UK Landowner Utility

Lease Your Land for Solar: Does It Have Grid Capacity?

Check your eligibility for a Solar Farm or Battery Storage site in 30 seconds. Identify viable grid connection points (33kV+) near you.

Grid Capacity Assessment Tool

System Online

Approximate is fine. Solar farms need 10+ acres; smaller plots near the grid can still suit battery storage.

We will analyze the distance to the nearest viable grid connection point (33kV and above).

Free assessment using open data from all six GB distribution network operators.

Watch

How much do solar farms pay per acre?

2026 UK lease rates, how RPI indexation compounds, worked income examples for 5, 25 and 100 acre sites, and the grid connection check that decides if any of it applies to your land.

£1,200+

What the Tool Estimates

The check returns an indicative annual lease estimate for your postcode. Solar typically £850-£1,200/acre; battery storage £10,000+/acre when grid connection is good.

2.5 Miles

Grid Connection Distance

Land within 2.5 miles of a primary substation is highly valuable. Our tool checks your distance instantly.

100% Free

No Obligation Search

We use open infrastructure data to provide a preliminary assessment. You only proceed if the numbers work.

How the Grid Check Estimates Your Income

The tool weights your estimate against two bands based on substation distance, voltage, and site size:

Higher Band (£1,100-£1,200/acre)

  • • Within 1 mile of a 33kV+ substation
  • • Sites over 100 acres
  • • South-facing, flat land
  • • Grade 3b or lower agricultural land

Standard Band (£850-£1,100/acre)

  • • 1-2.5 miles from substation
  • • Sites 30-100 acres
  • • Moderate topography
  • • May require grid reinforcement

Estimates assume annual RPI-linked increases across a 25-40 year lease. For the full breakdown of regional variation, worked income examples by acreage, and inflation-linking math, see our Solar Farm Income & Profit Per Acre UK guide.

How SolarGridCheck Works

  1. Locate Infrastructure: We cross-reference your postcode with NESO (National Energy System Operator) and DNO datasets.
  2. Analyze Viability: We calculate cable distance and voltage capacity to estimate connection costs. Most viable sites then need a DNO connection (G99) approval from your local network operator.
  3. Connect with Developers: If viable, we match you with funded developers looking for sites in your county.

Live Market Data

Solar Lease (High)£1,200/acre
Battery Lease (High)£40,000/acre
Grid CongestionHigh (East Anglia)

*Market averages Q4 2025. Actual offers depend on grid connection cost.

What if my land isn't right for solar?

Don't write off your asset. Explore high-value alternatives.

Battery Storage (BESS)

High Lease Rates

Too small for a solar farm? Battery storage projects only require 1-2 acres of land but need high grid capacity.

Check Battery Potential →

Biodiversity (BNG)

New Market

Land quality too poor for farming or solar? Sell Biodiversity Net Gain units to developers.

Calculate BNG Value →

Landowner Guides

Solar on Farmland →

New to the idea? Lease your land vs powering your own farm — and whether your land qualifies.

Income Per Acre Guide →

Complete breakdown of 2025 lease rates, battery premiums, and inflation linking.

Tax for Landowners →

APR, inheritance tax, income tax and CGT — and why timing matters before you sign.

Sell or Lease? →

Lump sum vs 25–40 years of index-linked rent — the trade-offs, tax, and how to protect yourself if you sell.

Before You Sign: Checklist →

Mortgage consent, title covenants, tenancies, cable rights and subsidies — the due diligence to do before signing an option.

Land Requirements →

Minimum acreage, topography, and access requirements for solar farm sites.

Planning Permission →

When you need planning permission for a solar farm, how to apply, and why applications get refused.

Developer Directory →

Browse our list of verified, fully funded UK solar infrastructure partners.

Lease Negotiation Guide →

How to negotiate solar farm lease terms, avoid common traps, and maximise your per-acre income.

Pros & Cons of Solar Farms →

Honest breakdown of the benefits and drawbacks of hosting a solar farm on your land.

Grid Connection Queue 2026 →

The 500GW backlog, reform impact, and what it means for your solar project timeline.

UK Grid Connection Queue (Live Data) →

How big the queue is, how much is speculative, and why land near real grid capacity is what developers pay for.

Solar Planning Data by County →

How many solar farms are approved and in planning across the UK, by county, from the official DESNZ database.

Bifacial Solar Panels →

5–30% more energy from both sides — but are they worth the extra cost for your farm?

Battery Storage vs Solar Farm →

Comparing grid-scale BESS and solar — which earns more on your land?

Grid Check & Landowner FAQs

UK solar farm lease rates typically range from £850 to £1,200 per acre annually. Battery storage sites pay significantly more — £10,000 to £40,000 per acre per year — because BESS projects need just 0.5-2 acres but generate £4M-£15M annually. Rates depend on grid connection proximity, land size, and local demand.
Solar farm leases typically run for 25-40 years, with options to extend. Payments are usually index-linked to inflation (RPI or CPI), protecting your income over time.
Most developers look for a minimum of 20-50 acres for utility-scale solar farms. Smaller sites of 5-20 acres may still be viable depending on grid capacity. Battery storage only requires 1-2 acres.
Yes, solar farms over 1MW (approximately 6-8 acres) require planning permission. Projects over 50MW in England are classed as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and follow a different process. See our full solar planning permission guide for details on timelines, agricultural land grades, and common refusal reasons.
Yes, many solar farms allow sheep grazing between panel rows. Some sites also incorporate wildflower meadows for biodiversity, which can count towards Biodiversity Net Gain requirements.
Key factors include: proximity to grid infrastructure (ideally within 2.5 miles of a primary substation), land size, topography (flat or south-facing preferred), flood risk, and agricultural land classification.
Yes. SolarGridCheck is a free tool for UK landowners that checks your land's proximity to grid infrastructure with spare capacity — the single biggest factor in whether a developer will be interested. If your site looks viable, it can connect you with verified solar and battery developers actively looking for land, with no obligation and no upfront cost.
Benchmark it before you respond. UK solar leases typically pay £850-£1,200 per acre per year, index-linked, plus an option payment during planning. Compare any offer against current rates and structures in our solar farm income per acre guide, and check the terms — RPI uplift, decommissioning bond, break clauses — against our lease negotiation guide. Getting an independent grid and site assessment first stops developers anchoring you low.