Sustainable Solutions: How Geldard Farm Eggs Uses Solar Power to Reduce Energy Use
At Geldard Farm Eggs, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and investing in renewable energy has been a key part of our farming journey.
We now generate up to 50% of the energy needed for Geldard Farm Eggs, including our Packing Facility at Levens, thanks to three solar installations on our barns and Packing Unit.
Harnessing Solar Power
Solar energy has been a game-changer for farms across the UK, reducing reliance on traditional power sources and offering a cleaner, more sustainable way to meet energy demands.
With rising energy costs and an increased focus on sustainability, many farmers are turning to renewables to power their operations.
By investing in solar power, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint but also ensuring that every aspect of our farm, from our energy use to our eggs, is produced as sustainably as possible.
According to the NFU Energy Guide on Solar Energy, more farms are now seeing the benefits of renewable energy, helping to create a more sustainable future for UK agriculture.
Our Solar Journey
Our move towards renewable energy began in 2013 with the installation of solar panels on one of our barn roofs. At the time, we saw the opportunity to make the farm more self-sufficient while reducing our environmental impact.
Since then, as technology has advanced and energy prices have fluctuated, we’ve expanded our solar installations.
Today, our facility requires around 360,000 kWh of energy to annually to operate, and over 50% of this requirement is now generated by our solar panels.
This shift has significantly reduced our reliance on traditional energy sources while lowering our overall environmental impact.
Aiming for Energy Self-Sufficiency
Our long-term goal is to make both the farm and egg packing unit fully self-sufficient, operating off-grid. Richard Geldard said “It’s really important that we plan for and invest in a sustainable future for our farm.
“We believe renewable technology offers us a real opportunity to power our farm in the future with clean energy that we can share back into the National Grid, when we have spare capacity, that will help support our local communities’ energy requirements too”.
To achieve this, we are currently exploring battery storage solutions, which would allow us to store excess energy and use it when needed, further reducing our reliance on external energy suppliers.
Farming is about more than just producing food – it’s about looking after the land, caring for our animals, and ensuring that future generations can continue to farm in a way that is both productive and sustainable.
By continuing to invest in green technology, we are securing the future of our farm while contributing to a more sustainable agricultural industry.
