Wilton Farm
25.3kWp Solar PV and 24kWh Battery storage powering four generations of farming
About Wilton Farm.
Wilton Farm has been in the Enefer family for over 90 years. First rented by Alfred Enefer in 1930 and purchased outright in 1954, the farm is now run by the fourth generation, Nathan and his wife Linda, alongside their son Lee, his wife Becky, and their three boys.
Based in Hockwold, Norfolk, Wilton Farm operates as a working livestock and arable enterprise. The family also produces two award-winning cheeses under their own name, sold through the farm shop and direct to customers who make the trip out to their corner of Norfolk.
It is the kind of farm that has survived by adapting, and the decision to invest in renewable energy is the latest chapter in that story.
Client:
Wilton Farm, Hockwold, Norfolk
Sector:
Agriculture — Livestock and Artisan Food Production
System:
25.3kWp solar PV array with 24kWh SigEnergy battery storage
Finance:
SmartEase
The challenge.
For a working farm, energy is not an optional overhead. Refrigeration, dairy operations, farm equipment and lighting across multiple buildings means energy demand is constant, and the bills reflect it.
Like many rural businesses, Wilton Farm was exposed to rising grid electricity costs with limited control over what they paid or when. The farm’s fibre cement-roofed outbuildings represented an opportunity: significant roof space, well-oriented and largely unused from an energy perspective
The goal was straightforward: reduce dependence on grid electricity, lock in lower running costs, and do it in a way that made financial sense for a family business thinking in generations, not quarters.
There was one significant complication. Without access to the right financing, the project would not have been viable.
The solution.
BeBa Energy designed and installed a 25.3kWp solar PV array across the farm’s fibre cement roof, paired with a 24kWh SigEnergy battery storage system.
The solar array captures generation across the day and feeds it directly into the farm’s operations. The SigEnergy battery system stores surplus generation, making it available during evening hours, overnight, and during periods of lower solar generation, extending the value of every unit produced and reducing the farm’s draw from the grid. The battery can also be charged overnight using off-peak grid electricity, enabling the farm to take advantage of lower energy tariffs and further reduce operating costs. The system was specified to match Wilton Farm’s actual consumption profile, rather than simply maximising panel count. The result is a setup that works with the rhythms of a working farm. By aligning generation and storage capacity with actual farm demand, the system maximises self-consumption and improves overall return on investment.
Installed on
fibre cement roof
Making it possible with SmartEase.
For Nathan, Lee and the team at Wilton Farm, the system specification was not the primary obstacle. The upfront capital requirement was.
BeBa Energy introduced the family to SmartEase, their specialist finance partner for commercial renewable installations, who worked directly with the farm to structure a finance arrangement that made the project deliverable without placing pressure on the business’s working capital.
This is increasingly common across BeBa Energy’s agricultural and rural client base. The economics of commercial solar and battery storage are compelling, but the upfront cost remains a barrier for many businesses that would benefit most. Structured finance, arranged by a partner who understands the renewable sector, changes that calculation.
If finance is the reason you have not yet explored what solar could do for your site, it is worth having a conversation.
The results.
With an estimated 71% grid independence, Wilton Farm now generates the majority of the electricity it uses from its own roof. The grid remains available as a backup and top-up, but it is no longer the default.
The projected performance of the system represents a significant and lasting reduction in one of the farm’s core operating costs, while reducing exposure to future electricity price increases.
“For a while, solar was something we knew would make sense for the farm, but finding a way to make it work financially was always the challenge. When BeBa Energy introduced us to SmartEase, it finally felt like the pieces fell into place and we could move forward with confidence.
From the start, the team at BeBa Energy understood how the farm operates and designed a system around our actual energy use rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The installation process was straightforward, communication was good throughout, and we felt confident we were in safe hands.
The biggest benefit is knowing we’re generating and storing more of our own electricity and reducing our reliance on the grid. With energy costs unlikely to come down any time soon, having greater control over one of the farm’s major running costs gives us real peace of mind. As a family farm that’s been here for four generations, we’re always thinking long term, and this is an investment that will continue to benefit the business for many years to come.”
Lee Enefer, Wilton Farm
“From the outset, Lee and Becky were a pleasure to work with. As the next generation of a long-established family farm, they’re facing the same challenge as many farming businesses today: finding ways to diversify, improve efficiency and secure the future of the business for generations to come.
We work with organisations across many sectors, but projects like this are always especially rewarding because the impact is so personal. Helping a family business reduce its running costs and gain greater control over its energy future is exactly why we do what we do.
And, as an added bonus, every site visit seemed to end with a trip to the farm shop to stock up on their fantastic award-winning cheese.“
BeBa Energy
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