Big monthly savings for a small business
A family-run potato farm in Cambridgeshire has reduced its energy bills from peaks of £2,000 a month to between £300 and £400 in quieter periods. The Garners at Wadlode House Farm report yearly savings of about 40%, with the solar array covering nearly all the cold-store running costs through the summer. Nigel Garner called the move straightforward: “It’s a no-brainer. We’re now paying hundreds instead of thousands, and I would totally recommend it to other farmers.”
System built around real farm needs
E.ON Next fitted 64 solar panels plus battery storage in 2025 to power refrigeration and ventilation that keep potatoes at 8°C. A second installation of 80 panels followed in 2026 on another building. The setup also exports surplus power, creating an extra revenue stream when the farm is not drawing electricity. Andrew Garner noted the wider pressure: “We don’t control the price of what we produce… The only costs we can control are what we use.”
Why more businesses may follow
Adrian Ellington of E.ON Next said the main gains come from lower bills and export income, adding that the supplier wants to help small firms that have had limited support until now. This announcement follows E.ON Next’s zero-interest loans for solar, which could make similar projects easier for other farms and small businesses. You can compare current business energy options on our energy hub to see what support is available in your area.
