Solar Panels vs Farmland… or Are We Asking the Wrong Question?

 


Solar Panels vs Farmland… or Are We Asking the Wrong Question?

There’s a growing row in the UK: should we really be covering valuable agricultural land with solar panels while food security is becoming more important?

It’s an emotional debate. Farmers worry about losing productive land. Environmentalists argue we need rapid renewable expansion. Politicians sit somewhere in the middle trying not to upset either side.

But perhaps we’re missing something obvious…

Look Around the Supermarket Car Park

Next time you visit Tesco, Sainsbury’s, or Asda, just stop for a moment (preferably not in the middle of the entrance road ).

Look at the sheer space.

Acres of tarmac.
Baking in the sun.
Doing absolutely nothing useful—except heating up cars and contributing to urban heat.

Now imagine this instead:

  • Solar canopies covering the car park
  • Cars parked in the shade (no more scorching steering wheels)
  • Electric vehicle charging built into the structure
  • Clean electricity generated right where it’s needed

Suddenly, that “wasted space” becomes a power station.

The Farmland Argument

To be fair, there are good reasons why solar farms end up on agricultural land:

  • Flat, open spaces = easy installation
  • Fewer planning restrictions
  • Lower construction costs
  • Efficient large-scale generation

But the downsides are real:

  • Loss of food production land
  • Visual impact on rural landscapes
  • Community resistance
  • Long-term land use conflicts

There’s also the uncomfortable question:
Are we taking the easy option rather than the best one?

Why Car Parks Make So Much Sense

Supermarket and retail car parks tick almost every box for solar:

Already developed land

No loss of countryside or food production

Close to energy demand

Power can be used directly in-store (refrigeration, lighting, EV charging)

Dual-purpose use

Parking + energy generation

Improved customer experience

Shaded cars, shelter from rain (very British benefit!)

Scalable across the UK

Thousands of suitable sites already exist

France has already moved in this direction, mandating solar canopies over large car parks. The UK? Still talking.

So Why Isn’t It Happening Faster?

Good question—and slightly frustrating answers:

  • Higher upfront cost than ground-mounted solar
  • Structural engineering requirements
  • Ownership and leasing complexities
  • Planning and grid connection delays

In short: it’s harder than putting panels in a field

But harder doesn’t mean worse.

A Smarter Approach: Do Both (But Better)

This doesn’t have to be an either/or argument.

A sensible strategy could include:

  • Prioritising rooftops and car parks first
  • Using lower-grade agricultural land where necessary
  • Exploring agrivoltaics (growing crops under panels)
  • Integrating solar into new developments from the start

It’s about using the right land for the right purpose.

Final Thought

We don’t have a shortage of space in the UK—we have a shortage of imagination (and sometimes willingness).

Before we cover another field with panels, perhaps we should look at the acres of empty tarmac sitting outside every supermarket.

Because the greenest solution…
might already be under our tyres.

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