More than 5,000 solar panels are being installed on Shropshire farms in a bid to save farmers facing rising energy costs thousands of pounds.

The average farm is expected to make a return of about 13 per cent on their investment, including savings of up to 50 per cent on their electricity bills, according to experts. The panels, installed by The Green Electrician, will save half a million tonnes of carbon a year and generate enough electricity to power a village.

The largest installation was 1,000 panels for poultry farmer Mark Gethin, of Cardeston, near Shrewsbury.

His system now ranks among the largest privately-owned systems in the UK and is the largest in the county.

Brothers Richard and Philip Maddocks installed panels at their neighbouring farms near Newport to protect their dairy and salad businesses against electricity price increases.

Richard Maddocks, who had 540 solar panels put on the roof of his new dairy unit, said: “We are concerned by our energy consumption and future electricity price rises. Installing solar panels on our brand new dairy unit will make us far more energy efficient.”

Andrew Watson-Jones, of Howle Manor, near Newport, aims to run his poultry heating systems using the power generated by his 535 solar panels.

The poultry and arable farmer said: “We installed the solar panels as we were very concerned by increasing energy prices and the impact this will have on our business.”

Philip Maddocks, of PDM Produce, near Newport, has had 759 solar panels fitted on a state-of-the-art chilling and processing building.

He said: “Being a salad producer, we are a power hungry farm and we use three times as much power in the summer, mostly during the day, so the solar PV technology is a perfect match for us.”

Stephen Davies, director of The Green Electrician, which has an office in Whitchurch, said: “Farmers in Shropshire have really embraced solar technology and the benefits it brings as a new source of on-farm revenue.

“We currently have 30 more farmers going through the process of planning, structural surveys and network approval including cheese makers, dairy, cattle and poultry farmers.”

Customers include farmers, housing associations, private homeowners and businesses.

For details visit www.the greenelectrician.co.uk or ring (01829) 261765.

By Lisa Rowley