Good demand for energy sites in right locations

There is still a healthy market for clean power generation and a growing need for response systems, such as battery storage and gas-peaking plants, despite the government slashing financial support for renewable energy.

Developers of solar farms are looking for new sites as the drop in the cost of solar units has created new opportunities, says David Grindley, director of Savills Energy.

For leased sites, the scale is growing so that developers might well need 80-100ha for a 50MW solar farm. For solar the land quality needs to be considered – grade 3b or poorer is preferred. 

See also: Diversification advice

Investment funds are also moving into the development part of the process as backers are prepared to take on more risk.

Farmers and landowners should look at their asset base and see what electricity or gas infrastructure is on their land or nearby, Mr Grindley advises.

Battery storage and gas peaking plants help grid networks balance their supply and demand. Gas peaking schemes connect into existing substations or overhead lines, and require relatively small sites of up to 0.4ha.  

Last year, renewable energy sources provided a third of the UK’s energy. Coal power stations will be phased out by 2025.