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Green energy for agricultural businesses

The potential for developing renewable energies is considerable for a farm, particularly with regard to solar and wind energy.

To harness solar energy, it is necessary to have sufficient space. Often, agricultural sheds offer an ideal surface to install solar panels, thus producing green electricity to support the activities of the farm.

When it comes to wind energy, an agricultural business is often well positioned, with open spaces close to its operating site, favoring the installation of wind turbines.

A major difference between solar panels and wind turbines lies in the administrative procedures. The installation of a wind turbine, regardless of its type or power, requires a planning permit. On the other hand, the installation of solar panels does not require a planning permit if certain conditions are met:

  • The panels must be fixed or integrated into the roof;
  • The installation must not exceed the height of the building on which it is installed.

As for wind turbines, in addition to the planning permission, an environmental impact assessment notice is required for any type of wind turbine. Here is a summary of the requirements according to the power of the installations, with a focus on wind turbines of less than 100 kW (only in French).


In both cases, a preliminary study is strongly recommended.

For solar panels, it is essential to check whether the existing structure is strong enough to support a photovoltaic system. Indeed, shed roofs are often less robust than those of homes. Note that there are also flexible panels without an aluminum frame, which reduce the weight by 80% compared to conventional modules.

For the wind turbine, it is necessary to choose the location carefully and evaluate the average wind speed in order to guarantee the profitability of the installation depending on the type of wind turbine selected.

It is very likely that the energy storage solution will be considered, as it allows the self-consumption rate to be increased. If the installation is connected to the grid, a file must be prepared for the grid manager before starting any other process. There is also the option of semi-off-grid connection, which can represent an interesting alternative.