ONE of the largest privately-owned solar panel installations in the North-East has been set up on a farm.

Hulam Farm at Castle Eden, near Peterlee, County Durham, has taken delivery of a 150kW, 460 panel Sunpower solar PV system.

The system is expected to achieve financial payback within six years and generate a combined revenue and savings of over £1,000,000 within 25 years, while reducing the carbon footprint.

The system at Hulam Farm was installed by the Solar PV and Heat Pump specialist, Calibrate Energy of Northumberland.

Hulam Farm, Michael Allen said he was alarmed at the prospect of increasing energy bills and wanted long-term fuel security and an end to rising energy bills.

He said: “Installing a solar PV system on the farm was an excellent choice for us and is a perfect solution I would think for many more farmers and businesses.

“Importantly, it allows businesses to become sustainable, operate in a way that is far more cost effective and significantly reduces our operating costs.”

Calibrate Energy director Shane McDonald said: “Hulam Farm is a great example of how a large scale solar PV system can allow a business to become more self-reliant and make huge savings on energy costs.”

Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels work by producing electricity from daylight through a process called photovoltaic streaming.

The solar panels, whether they be in the home or business, with on-grid systems, have an average lifespan of 30-40 years.