Published
March 23, 2026
You don’t always need an environmental permit for solar on intensive pig and poultry farms, but you may need to review and potentially vary your existing permit.
Many pig and poultry farms already operate under an environmental permit due to their scale. Poultry farms with more than 40,000 birds and pig farms with more than 2,000 production pigs or 750 sows are regulated under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (EPR).
This is because they are classified as Part A(1) installations, so they require an environmental permit and must follow Best Available Techniques (BAT) in order to minimise environmental impact. Therefore, any significant change to the site, such as solar panel installations, need to be considered in this regulatory context.
Planning Permission vs Environmental Permitting
A common misconception is that securing planning permission is sufficient; planning permission only deals with land use and development, whereas environmental permitting governs operational environmental risk.
So, before installing solar on your intensive pig and poultry farm, you should notify the Environment Agency and look into whether you need to apply for a permit variation. Early engagement with regulators is key to avoiding delays or compliance issues later.
Regulatory Implications of Solar Installations
Although solar panels are not typically a regulated activity under EPR, installing them on an intensive farm can still have implications.
Changes to Drainage & Runoff
One of the most important considerations is how solar panels affect water movement across a site. Ground-mounted arrays can increase surface water runoff, concentrate water flow at panel edges, and reduce natural infiltration.
For intensive pig and poultry farms, there is a higher risk of nutrient pollution from manure and slurry which can increase the risk of contamination reaching watercourses. This means, farmers must make sure clean and dirty water systems remain effective and the runoff doesn’t carry pollutants.
In some cases, this may require updates to the design of your drainage systems and potentially a permit variation.
Impacts on Manure & Waste Management
If solar panel installations disrupt how waste is stored, handled or transported, it could lead to non-compliance with permit conditions.
The decision of where to install solar panels on your farm must consider the logistics such as access routes for vehicles and the movement of equipment across the site. It must also take into consideration the locations of manure or slurry storage, so careful layout planning is essential.
Proper management of these systems is vital to ensure they remain fully functional and biosecurity measures are not compromised.
Air Emissions & BAT Compliance
Roof-mounted solar panel systems, or those close to housing, can indirectly affect air emissions and BAT compliance. Intensive farms must manage emissions such as ammonia, dust and odour but solar installations can have an impact by:
- Changing ventilation patterns
- Affecting airflow around buildings
- Altering land use that was previously used for emission mitigation
It’s important that any changes must continue to align with BAT requirements, meaning emissions must remain controlled at permitted levels.
Construction Phase Risks
Even if the final installation is compliant, the construction phase introduces its own risks, such as soil disturbance, fuel and material storage, and temporary waste generation.
Farmers remain responsible for ensuring contractors follow environmental controls and any pollution incidents are avoided during installation.
Long-Term Waste Considerations
At the end of their life, solar panels must be disposed of correctly under waste regulations. This disposal falls under broader environmental controls and requires proper handling as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) as well as use of authorised disposal or recycling routes.
Agricultural Solar Panel Installations from Noble Green Energy
Solar represents a valuable opportunity for intensive pig and poultry farms, but it must be approached with a full understanding of the regulatory landscape. In many cases, it’s not the panels themselves that trigger regulatory requirements, it’s how they interact with an already permitted installation or site.
With the right planning, farmers can reduce energy costs, improve sustainability all while maintaining full compliance with environmental permitting requirements.
As part of the Noble Foods Group, Noble Green Energy is closely aligned with the agriculture industry, its challenges and regulations. If you’re considering solar for an intensive farm, we can ensure your project runs smoothly and efficiently right from the start. Check out our Agricultural Case Studies or get in touch with us today.
