How potato store solar project saved farm 40% on energy costs
Solar panels for potato store © E-on Following one of the toughest years growing potatoes, Cambridgeshire farmers Nigel and Andrew Garner knew they needed to cut input costs to keep the business pushing forward.
That’s why in August 2025 the father-and-son duo invested in a solar and battery storage system to power their main potato cold store. “It was a difficult year last year,” recalls Andrew.
“Potato demand dropped off and yields were down because of the heat. We knew we had to produce potatoes cheaper, and more efficiently,” he says.
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Out of control input costs
The farm’s cold store alone was costing £10,000 a year in electricity costs to run.
“Input costs have got out of control. Fuel and electricity prices are rising and markets are changing.
“All we can do is keep our costs down as much as we can, which is why we went down the solar and battery storage route,” says Andrew.
Potatoes have long been a part of the cropping rotation at NP Garner and Son, which grows 100 acres of potatoes for the fish and chip shop market.
The farm features 2,000t of potato storage: one cold store and five ambient stores.
The solar setup covers nearly 100% of the electricity running costs of the cold store during the summer months, achieving a 40% overall saving in electricity costs throughout the year.
The pair opted for a 25kW Sigenegry Inverter and 64 455 JA solar panels, estimated to produce 30,835kWh of energy each year, alongside a 45.2kWh battery.
“We’ve got to invest more money into the business to see a return.
“Years ago, you could just take on more land, but the economies of scale just don’t add up today,” says Nigel.
Second solar setup
Impressed with the initial savings in year one, a second solar and battery storage system was installed on an ambient store this summer, to help power the workshop, packhouse and ambient stores.
This time they installed a 30kW Inverter and 80 465w solar panels, with the same size battery store.
The estimated return on investment for both developments is eight years.
“We did the math and knew the investment would add up,” says Andrew.
Potato storage
Potato storage is critical to the farm’s setup, as potatoes are sold to wholesalers for the fish and chip shop trade and typically sold from November through to June.
Setting up the solar development was a smooth process. Andrew worked with their existing power provider E-on.
Nigel and Andrew inquired about the panels, and within a couple of months, the system was fully integrated.
They initially investigated grant funding for the development but decided this wouldn’t work for them.
The battery storage stores excess energy and helps power the potato stores during the night when the solar panels cease working.
“We can get up to 60kW of charge during the day – but for context, the cold store requires 19kWh to operate during the peak of summer,” says Andrew.
The solar panel system comes complete with a mobile tracking app to monitor energy usage at any given point.
“It helps us plan ahead, as we can change timings and alter the temperature on the fridge based on usage data,” notes Andrew.
Keeping soils in good heart
Potatoes notoriously get a bad reputation for soil structure damage, but NP Garner and Son strives for a healthy rotation to grow quality crops and keep costs to a minimum as much as possible.
Nigel and Andrew grow over winter greening crops of mustard and radish to promote soil health, reduce disease pressure and keep nematode populations at bay.
They also use biostimulants, trace elements, and seaweed products to optimise crop performance.
Sheep grazing on grass leys, and muck-for-straw deals also keep soils in good heart.
When it comes to establishing potatoes, a low disturbance subsoiler kickstarts the process, followed by two passes of a baselier, and finally the potato planter itself.
