Call for Home Solar Panels Over Farmland Solar Farms Gains Political Support

Building solar farms on agricultural land instead of installing solar panels on new homes is being criticized as impractical, with concerns raised about the use of valuable farmland for solar energy projects. Bengt Larson, a resident of Bury St Edmunds, voiced his discontent on BBC Politics East, particularly regarding new housing estates in his area that lack solar panel installations. He argued that utilizing farmland for solar farms, while homes are being constructed without sustainable energy solutions, is a misallocation of resources.

Larson suggested that it is essential to fit solar panels on new homes, stating, “The planners have got to be forceful and say if you build these properties you have to include solar panels." He pointed out that in countries like Denmark, where renewable energy sources like windmills and solar power are prevalent, farmland is considered too valuable to be used for solar farms.

His call for a shift in solar energy policy gained support from MPs across the political spectrum. Marie Goldman, the Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford, agreed “100%” with Larson, expressing that new homes should come equipped with solar panels and that retrofitting should be made easier for existing properties. Conservative MP Jerome Mayhew also advocated for the inclusion of solar panels in future housing grants, while Labour MP Pam Cox highlighted that solar energy would be an essential part of Labour’s planning system reforms.

However, some MPs like Mayhew suggested that solar panels should not be mandatory on all new builds due to potential technical issues with certain roofs. Nonetheless, there was a consensus that solar panels on new homes could greatly contribute to the country's renewable energy goals and lessen the need for expansive solar farms.

The debate comes amid the government's push to accelerate its clean energy mission, with new Energy Secretary Ed Miliband recently approving large-scale solar projects capable of powering hundreds of thousands of homes. Miliband emphasized the need to “unleash a UK solar rooftop revolution,” encouraging builders and homeowners to adopt solar panels, both to reduce energy costs and to combat climate change.

The growing use of agricultural land for solar farms remains a contentious issue, with critics questioning the long-term sustainability and economic implications of sacrificing productive farmland for energy generation. As Larson and others argue, fitting homes with solar panels could offer a win-win solution, avoiding land-use conflicts while advancing the UK's renewable energy objectives.