In order to encourage the installation of solar projects on buildings, the Department of Energy and Climate Change has announced that buildingmounted solar PV projects will receive a separate Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC).

This could prove to be excellent news for farmers and landowners with large buildings which could house solar panels on their roofs.

The government has also confirmed that the national grid has the capacity to accommodate a tenfold increase in solar power. The changes in the levels of support indicate how much cheaper solar PV has become over the past three years.

Greg Barker, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, said: “Our proposals for solar projects on commercial buildings will encourage businesses to consider solar PV as a serious option for meeting their power needs.”

Farmers who decide to introduce a building-mounted solar PV project will be able to choose between the Feed in Tariff scheme and the Renewables Obligation for projects between 50kW and 5MW.

The government has also announced that it will ensure that biomass projects that are cost and carbon effective are brought forward, in an effort to unlock investment decisions worth £600 million, creating around 1,000 construction jobs.

The whole sector has been seeking certainty as to the banding for Solar PV under the ROC scheme in order to enable the large schemes to proceed.

Many in the industry had been lobbying for a differentiation between building and ground mounted solar projects. They will be encouraged to see the government responding to that.

While the financial returns can be significant and there are benefits associated with introducing renewable energy, with an icreasing number of developers coming into the sector and an increase in developments in the South West, it is important that farmers seek advice before signing anything, to ensure they are getting the best deal. There are many issues to consider including warranties for equipment, feedin-tariff accreditation, contracts with the installers and integrating a renewable energy project into a business.

Sonya Bedford is a partner and head of renewable energy at Stephens Scown LLP. The firm has a dedicated renewable energy team and has advised on some of the UK’s most innovative renewable energy projects. Sonya can be contacted on 01392 210700.