Solar Power Helps Dairy Farmer Slash Bills and Boost Sustainability

Running a dairy farm is no small feat, but for Andrew Creed of Knapp Farm in West Pennard, Somerset, the daily rhythm is second nature. Alongside his wife and family, Andrew cares for 340 Holstein and Friesian cows, each producing an impressive 10,500 litres of milk per year.

The herd is milked twice a day, at 5am and 3pm. “We’re a family-run farm, and like most dairy businesses, we’re always looking at ways to make things more efficient,” Andrew explains.

From Idea to Investment

Solar power had been on the back burner for a while, until a chance conversation with a Mole Valley Farmers employee sparked things into motion. “I’d always thought about it from a carbon footprint perspective, because that’s important to our milk buyer. But once we looked properly at the numbers, the financial case was just as strong. It was really a no-brainer,” says Andrew.

Working with Mole Energy’s technical team, Andrew provided 12 months of electricity bills, which were analysed in detail to model the farm’s usage. The proposal that came back offered three options. Andrew chose the smaller system to avoid the added cost of upgrading the farm’s transformer. Even then, the modelling showed a payback of just 5.2 years – a near 20% return on investment.

A Shift in Energy Use

Installed and commissioned in May, Knapp Farm’s 36kWp solar power system has already made a tangible impact. “We’re now just over 50% self-sufficient in electricity. Our bills have gone from about £3,500 a month down to between £1,600 and £1,700. That’s nearly halved,” says Andrew.

Dairy farms use most of their electricity for heating water and cooling milk, both processes tied to milking times. “We used to use time clocks to run as much as possible on off-peak tariffs at night. Now it’s flipped on its head – we try to use as much as we can when the sun’s shining. Instead of being on a cheaper tariff, it’s actually free.”

Trust in Mole Energy

Choosing Mole Energy was an easy decision. “We’ve always dealt with Mole Valley Farmers and trusted them as a company we know. There are a lot of sharks out there, but Mole Energy were straightforward, easy to deal with, and did exactly what they said they would.”

From initial conversations to installation, Andrew found the process smooth and transparent. “They didn’t oversell it. They just showed us the facts and let us decide. That gave us confidence.”

Advice to Other Farmers

Andrew is clear in his advice to fellow dairy farmers: “Crunch the numbers. I’d be very surprised if it didn’t work out to be a cost-effective way of saving money. For us, it’s made a real difference, both financially and for our carbon footprint.”

Thinking long-term is key. With energy prices continuing to rise and milk buyers placing increasing emphasis on sustainability, solar power offers a practical solution that addresses both challenges. It’s not just about reducing costs today – it’s about future-proofing farming businesses for the years ahead.

Knapp Farm’s solar journey is a testament to how traditional farming and modern technology can work hand in hand. With rising costs and growing environmental pressures, Andrew’s story offers a practical, proven path forward for farms across the UK.