Riding through solar farms

So it seems that a large area near my work and beyond will be covered in solar panels in the not too distant future. I haven’t been able to work out how it affects my XC commute (mostly public footpaths), but I may need to plot a new route around or through the solar panels.

Does anyone have any experience of this? I’m fantasizing that I’ll be able to bomb through the panels unimpeded, but in reality think there may be boundary fences, lack of headroom and threat of prosecution.

Solar farms can output several megawatts – I’m pretty sure there will be boundary fences to protect the equipment from you and you from the equipment…..

….should add threat of electrocution. I perhaps naively thought that the electricity would safely be channelled to a single fenced-off station

Your local council right of way officer should know if there is going to be a re-routing of the paths

I would imagine the power company will get a concessionary path set up on the periphery of the installation with approval from the landowner

Solar farms near us have almost prison-level security around them. Cameras and the lot.

“Solar farms near us have almost prison-level security around them. Cameras and the lot.”

I came to say something very similar.  No chance of going through one.

Hmmmm, I don’t mind a bit of respectful, unobtrusive cheeky route action, but this is starting to sound like next level trespass.

I’ll contact the council and hopefully the footpaths will remain, or be rerouted.

Thanks all.

I visited one near Leominster and it had loudspeakers putting out raptor calls. Discouraging unauthorised “painting” of the panels.

Unless you are a sheep, no chance. The ones I see in North Wales are fenced off, but sheep graze on the grass

You don’t live near Selby do you? Loads going in around there at the moment. They will all be fenced off to the public, I assume public footpaths would need to be re-routed around the outside. This should be covered in planning conditions though, so check the planning portal for your area.

I’m building one in Essex at the moment – the footpath through the middle is totally segregated with deer fencing

I’m waiting for the first one to feature an e-bike charging point with a  “Fresh, direct from the farm electricity” marketing campaign

I’m waiting for the first one to feature an e-bike charging point with a  “Fresh, direct from the farm electricity” marketing campaign

Tech giants will likely have bought the energy off the plans for their stochastic parrot delvish generators and other LLM nonsense.

Footpaths will have to be rerouted and/or alternative provision made.

Ballsache during construction though.

Fresh, direct from the farm electricity

I’m pretty sure it will need to be pasteurised first.

Go on the councils planning portal, find it on the map and you’ll find alll the details and drawings.

PROW will be re-routed, but anything unofficial isn’t going to be considered.

If it’s a public footpath then they’ll have to make sure that the average person (and idiots) can’t kill themselves. It may mean diverting the footpath around (put I believe that requires planning permission and the local nimbies and red dock brigade will be up in arms. Or they’ll fence it off so you’re safe.