Miliband Addresses Solar Farm Food Security Concerns

Ed Miliband, the newly-appointed Secretary of State for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), has addressed concerns about the impact of solar farms on national food security. Speaking in the Commons, Miliband dismissed misconceptions, citing that ground-mounted solar farms occupied just 0.1% of UK land in 2022. He emphasised that development consent orders for major solar farms were backed by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU).

Solar Energy UK has published factsheets to dispel myths about solar farms, focusing on site selection, land disturbance, and food security. The NFU supports the solar sector, noting that solar farms occupy only a small amount of land and provide diversification income for farmers. The preference is for these farms to be situated on lower quality agricultural land, avoiding the most productive soils.

Miliband and Solar Energy UK stress that solar farms are crucial for renewable energy generation, providing reliable revenue for farmers and helping to reduce energy costs. This initiative is part of a broader effort to promote understanding and consistency in planning solar farm developments, ensuring that they support both climate ambitions and agricultural sustainability.