Improving Productivity Grant Launches Round 2 with Solar Panels Offering

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Holly Greenman (Chippenham)

The second round of the Improving Farm Productivity Grant has opened again this week and is open for initial eligibility checker applications until 21st March.

The grant, which has been increased from a 40% contribution to 50% in this latest round, aims to improve productivity, the environment, introduce innovation and combat labour difficulties with the introduction of technology.

Grant funding for robotic and automated equipment and technologies projects can be between £25,000 and £500,000 per business (so a minimum project cost of £50,000).

There is also a 25% grant offer for Solar PV equipment through the grant, starting at a minimum £15,000 grant amount through to £100,000 per business (minimum project cost £60,000).  The solar panels must be installed on existing farm building roofs, or on irrigation reservoirs.

This is the second time recently that solar projects have attracted grant funding alongside farm improvement grants.  The first grant was within the Calf Housing and Welfare grant last autumn, though this is the first time that we will see grant support for adding solar panels to existing farm buildings, or that funding for this can be sought irrespective of whether other elements of farm improvement are gaining grant support.

We anticipate this will be a well-received and popular grant, with many clients already enquiring about submitting their eligibility checker.

Some knowledge on your electric usage and requirement will be essential for submitting these, along with approximate project costs.

Should you be invited to full application stage, you will need to ensure that planning permission is gained before the June 2025 deadline.

For more information on these and other grant offerings which may be applicable to your business, contact Holly at Hollygreenman@fcgagric.com or your local FCG Office.

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