{"id":254289,"date":"2014-11-19T10:04:28","date_gmt":"2014-11-19T10:04:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/news\/partnership-to-explore-solar-farms-and-agriculture\/"},"modified":"2023-07-31T10:20:37","modified_gmt":"2023-07-31T10:20:37","slug":"partnership-to-explore-solar-farms-and-agriculture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/uk\/news\/partnership-to-explore-solar-farms-and-agriculture\/","title":{"rendered":"Partnership to Explore Solar Farms and Agriculture"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Partnership to Explore Solar Farms and Agriculture<\/h1>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Lightsource bp UK have joined forces with two education partners to explore the relationship between solar farms and agriculture<\/span><\/h2>\n

Education chiefs have teamed up with the UK\u2019s leading solar energy generator to spearhead an innovative new project aimed at exploring the relationship between solar farms and agriculture.<\/p>\n

Lightsource Renewable Energy Ltd, Moulton College and the School of Science and Technology of the University of Northampton have joined forces for the two year study.<\/p>\n

They are now on the lookout for a suitable post-graduate candidate to lead the research, which will evaluate solar installations as a viable diversification for farm businesses and measure the associated impacts.<\/p>\n

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It will also create an unbiased, online toolkit that will aim to help farmers and landowners decide whether or not it is sustainable to install solar power.<\/p>\n

Dr James Littlemore, senior lecturer in land and environmental management at Moulton College, said: \u201cWith farmers and landowners being advised to incorporate energy efficiency into their primary agri-business aims, the need to diversify and include on-farm renewables remains paramount. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed, farm-based solar energy generation in the form of photovoltaic (PV) installations on rooftops or at a field \u2018solar farm\u2019 scale have become increasingly popular. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYet there is a lack of information for landowners on how to evaluate solar installations as a farm diversification venture and to better understand the associated impact on the rural business. We hope this study will redress that imbalance.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The full time Master of Philosophy project is ideally suited to someone with a keen interest in agriculture, farm-scale renewable energy and land management.<\/p>\n

It will involve the use of Moulton College\u2019s own facilities including a 550 ha mixed farm, supervision from both the college and the university, as well as working directly with staff from Lightsource, the UK\u2019s leading solar energy generator.<\/p>\n

Conor McGuigan, director of development for Lightsource, said: \u201cWe have found there to be a real lack of credible information for rural businesses wishing to explore diversification with solar power.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDemonstrating our commitment to rural communities, we believe that by teaming up with Moulton College and the University of Northampton, that we can create a much needed independent and scientifically-based resource that will provide a sound foundation of information. We hope it will demonstrate that solar power can be a viable and trusted source of sustainable income – the perfect partner for growing business and even succession planning.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The project – fully funded by the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust and Lightsource – is open to those who have, or expect to receive, a first or upper-second class honours degree, or equivalent or an MSc\/MRes in a relevant discipline. The minimum English language proficiency requirement for candidates who have not taken a higher degree at a UK HE institution is an IELTS score of at least 6.5.<\/p>\n

Applications open on December 11 and the deadline is January 24 next year.<\/p>\n

For more information on the project contact Dr Littlemore at james.littlemore@moulton.ac.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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News <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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13 Feb, 2026<\/p>\n \n

Hett Moor Solar Farm awarded a contract in UK AR7 renewables auction<\/h5>\n <\/a>\n

Lightsource bp has been awarded a Contract for Difference (CfD) for Hett Moor Solar Farm in the UK Government\u2019s latest renewables auction, AR7.<\/p>\n

Read Story <\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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26 Jan, 2026<\/p>\n \n

Farming and energy – working side by side<\/h5>\n <\/a>\n

Sheep grazing on solar farms combines agriculture with solar electricity generation, enabling livestock to graze and crops to grow alongside and beneath solar panels.<\/p>\n

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21 Jan, 2026<\/p>\n \n

Exploring cutting-edge AgriPV innovations during site visits in Austria<\/h5>\n <\/a>\n

Deepening our understanding of how solar energy and agriculture can sustainably coexist at scale by learning from pioneering projects across Austria.<\/p>\n

Read Story <\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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