Berkeley Farm Dairy Adopts Solar Power to Boost Sustainability

Berkeley Farm Dairy, located in Wroughton, Wiltshire, has implemented a six-acre solar farm to power its milk production operations. This new installation is anticipated to cut the dairy's energy bills by nearly £88,000 annually and significantly decrease the carbon footprint by approximately 136,410kg per year. The solar photovoltaic (PV) system, capable of generating over 642,400 kWh of electricity annually, is placed in a separate field from the dairy's grazing Guernsey herd.

The family-run business, led by Ed Gosling, has been prompted by rising electricity costs in 2022 to advance their plans for renewable energy. The dairy, which processes around 250,000 litres of milk weekly, relies on energy-intensive operations. As part of their sustainability efforts, they also operate electric delivery vans and supply organic milk in reusable glass bottles.

The solar system was installed by SolarSense, a South West-based renewable energy firm, which handled the site surveys, system design, and full installation. Ed Gosling noted the dairy's commitment to sustainability and their ongoing efforts to optimize energy usage, such as pre-cooling water for milk processing.

The investment is expected to reach a payback period by year seven, with projected savings of approximately £3.2 million over the 25-year lifespan of the solar panels. Despite the formal switch-on process being less dramatic than anticipated, Gosling expressed satisfaction with the installation's potential impact on the farm's future.