Solar power is ideal for allotments and smallholdings where mains electricity is unavailable or expensive to connect. A compact system with a single 100-200W panel, an MPPT controller, and a 50-100Ah battery will power water pumps, LED lighting, phone charging, and electric fencing for most plots. For smallholdings with greater demands, a larger solar generator or off-grid battery system can handle power tools, refrigeration, and heating controls.
Thousands of allotment holders and smallholders across the UK manage their plots without any mains electricity connection. Running a cable from the nearest supply can cost thousands of pounds, while solar gives you a clean, affordable, and genuinely independent power source for as long as the sun shines.
Common Power Needs on an Allotment or Smallholding
Understanding what you actually need to power shapes your entire system. Typical uses include:
- Water pump: 50-150W, intermittent use for irrigation
- LED shed lighting: 5-20W per fixture
- Electric fence energiser: 1-5W continuous, often running 24/7
- Phone and tool charging: 10-65W
- Small refrigerator (for produce or animal vaccines): 50-80W average
- Power tools: 300-1,500W, short bursts
- Propagation heat mats: 10-20W each
Most allotment plots need only modest power, making solar an affordable and practical solution.
Small Allotment Setup: Shed Power
For a typical allotment plot where you need lighting, phone charging, and occasional small appliance use:
- 1 x 100-150W solar panel
- 20A MPPT charge controller
- 50-100Ah lithium or AGM battery
- Optional: 300W inverter for small 230V appliances
This setup costs £200-£400 in components and will comfortably run LED lighting for several hours each evening, keep your phone and tools charged, and power an electric fence energiser continuously.
Irrigation and Water Pumping
Solar is particularly well-suited to water pumping because the solar output tends to peak at the same time that plants need the most water. You can either:
- Run the pump directly from the solar panel via a pump controller (simple, no battery needed for daytime-only use)
- Store energy in a battery and run the pump at any time of day
For small allotment plots with a water butt or tank, a 12V submersible pump running from a single 100W panel and 50Ah battery handles most irrigation needs. For smallholdings with larger water storage, size up the panel and battery accordingly.
Electric Fencing
Electric fence energisers are one of the most efficient uses of a small solar system. A battery-powered fence energiser uses just 1-5W and can run for days or weeks from a small battery. Dedicated solar fence energiser kits with a small integrated panel and battery are available, but wiring your fence energiser into a general-purpose solar shed system gives you more flexibility.
Smallholding Power: Scaling Up
For smallholdings with more substantial power needs, a solar generator or off-grid battery system is the right approach. Consider:
Portable Solar Generators
Units like the EcoFlow DELTA 2 or DELTA Pro with one or two solar panels provide a fully self-contained power system. You can move the unit between the field shelter, polytunnel, or workshop as needed. The DELTA Pro's 3,600Wh capacity can run a chest freezer for over 24 hours, power tools for several hours, and handle multiple smaller loads simultaneously.
Fixed Off-Grid Systems
If you have a permanent building on your smallholding, a fixed solar array with a battery bank and inverter/charger provides the most seamless power experience. A 2-4kW system with a 5-10kWh battery bank can cover most smallholding needs including refrigeration, lighting, heating controls, and power tools.
Polytunnel and Greenhouse Applications
Solar power opens up some genuinely useful options for polytunnel and greenhouse management:
- Heat mats and propagation: Run from a small battery during the day and into the night
- Fans and ventilation: 12V fans can run directly from a small panel
- Soil moisture sensors and automation: Low-power electronics easily sustained by a modest solar setup
- Grow lights for seedlings: LED grow lights are efficient and well-suited to solar power
Things to Consider Before Installing
- Allotment rules: Check with your allotment association before installing panels. Most welcome solar as it improves the plot, but some have restrictions on structures or attachments to sheds.
- Security: Solar panels are valuable. Discreet installation and security cable attachment reduces theft risk on unstaffed plots.
- Shading: Assess your plot throughout the day and across the seasons. A panel that gets good sun in summer may be heavily shaded by trees or adjacent structures in winter.
- Battery storage in cold weather: Lithium batteries perform better than lead-acid in cold temperatures but should ideally be stored above 0°C for best performance and longevity.
