For the first time in five generations, HM Batt & Sons is farming something completely new- sunshine.

Mark, fifth-generation hop farmer at the helm of the family business, approached Creative Low Carbon to explore how solar and battery storage could reduce the farm’s electricity costs, a growing concern in an industry already squeezed by tight margins.

As many know, farming is a sector where every penny counts. Electricity had become a significant and ever-increasing overhead. To make matters worse, businesses like Mark’s are charged more per unit than households, thanks to so-called 'business tariffs'.

During our site visit, we assessed several buildings for rooftop solar, but each came with challenges; expensive structural reinforcements, difficult access, or unsuitable orientations. But being a farm, one thing wasn’t in short supply: land.

This led us to propose a ground-mounted system. At first, the idea sparked concern. Like many, Mark pictured tall, industrial-looking solar frames dominating the landscape… a potential eyesore for the farm and potentially upsetting to neighbours.

That concern quickly turned to relief when we presented a more discreet, innovative alternative: the Renusol Console.

These knee-high, plastic injection-moulded units are simply weighed down with ballast, requiring no scaffolding, no roofers, and minimal ground preparation. They’re installed on a weed-suppressing membrane- something Mark was happy to lay himself using his own equipment, further reducing costs.

The result? A sleek, low-profile, low-maintenance solar array that blends effortlessly into the landscape and delivers big on efficiency.

We installed 36 Aiko 465W NeoStar 2S panels (16.74kWp), paired with a SigEnergy 17kW three-phase Energy Controller and a SigenStor 8.06kWh battery.

"Why such a small battery?" you might ask. With SigEnergy's modular system, expanding storage is easy, most upgrades take under an hour. Following George’s advice, Mark is monitoring system performance through the app before deciding whether to invest in additional storage based on real data, not guesswork.

This system comes with a 10-year manufacturer warranty on the inverter and battery, and a 25-year performance guarantee on the panels. Other than the occasional panel clean, there's no regular maintenance required.

As you can see from the photos, this installation is anything but intrusive. It's a smart, cost-effective way to power the farm, and one that pays back in more ways than one. The projected return on investment is just 5 years.

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