In order for the UK to meet its solar power targets, generating 22GW of solar electricity from solar farms, less than 0.29 percent of agricultural land would have to be used, according to research conducted by Lightsource Renewable Energy.
Some critics believe that solar farms could adversely impact British food production, but Lightsource Renewable Energy has found that the amount of land needed for solar farm deployment would be about 53,877 hectares. The amount of food such an area is capable of producing amounts to the equivalent of two thirds of a dry roasted peanut per person in the UK and therefore the impact of solar farms on food production is indeed minimal.
Many solar farms also double up as grazing land and the study found that the possible reduction in food calories from deployment of solar energy plants equated to no more than four calories per person. The average adult requires 2000 calories per day.
A recent poll by YouGov found that the British public are seven times more likely to be in favour of solar farms than shale gas fracking plants.
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