For landowners and farmers
Turn marginal acres into four decades of income.
Dahu leases land for solar, wind and battery storage — then develops, funds, builds and operates it. You keep ownership. We carry the cost, the planning risk and the grid work.
- 300MW+
- Delivered across wind, solar and storage in the last 10 years
- £0
- Cost or capital risk to you — Dahu funds everything
- 25–40 yrs
- Typical lease term, index-linked and paid annually
- Bankable backer
- Backed by a major global infrastructure investor
How the project works
Power generated on your land, sold to the business next door.
Most UK sites stall in the grid connection queue. Our private wire model connects generation directly to a large local consumer, which is what makes long-term rent possible on land that other developers walk away from.
Site criteria
What we look for.
A quick self-check before you get in touch. Every site is still confirmed with a full assessment, and we look at each enquiry individually.
- 20 acres or more, including part of a larger holding
- Close to a grid connection, or to an energy-intensive site for a private wire
- Flat or gently sloping, without major planning designations
- Outside designated flood risk areas
- Open to a long-term agreement of 25 years or more
Unsure on one or two? Send it anyway — grid proximity often decides it.
Illustrative
What your land could generate.
- Indicative annual rent
- £72,000
- Over a 25-year lease
- £1,800,000
Illustrative only, based on an indicative rate per acre. Actual offers depend on grid or private wire proximity, site assessment and usable area.
On the ground
The field keeps farming underneath.
The process
From first call to first payment.
- 012 weeks
Desktop assessment
We map grid capacity, nearby energy users, constraints and flood risk. No visit needed, no cost to you.
- 022–4 weeks
Heads of terms
An option and lease offer in plain English, with rent, term and reinstatement set out before anything is signed.
- 036–12 months
Planning & design
We run consultation, ecology, landscape and the planning application. Option fees are paid during this stage.
- 044–6 months
Construction
Funded and built by Dahu with our infrastructure partners. Access routes and working hours agreed with you.
- 0525+ years
Operations
Rent paid annually and index-linked. We maintain the site; grazing and habitat management continue.
Questions
The things landowners ask first.
Do I have to sell my land?
No. Dahu leases the land. You keep freehold ownership throughout and the land is returned to you, reinstated, at the end of the agreement.
Can farming continue on the site?
Often, yes. Sheep grazing, wildflower margins and habitat management commonly run alongside ground-mounted solar. The design is set with you at the outset.
What if planning is refused?
Dahu carries the planning cost and risk. If consent isn't granted, the option simply lapses and you are not out of pocket.
How does a private wire change things?
Supplying a nearby industrial user directly can avoid years in the grid queue, so sites that look unviable on grid capacity alone can still work.
Is the rent fixed?
Rent is agreed upfront and index-linked, so it rises with inflation over the life of the lease. Option fees are paid during the development period.
What happens at the end?
The site is decommissioned and the land reinstated at Dahu's cost, secured in the lease from day one. Panels sit on driven piles, so removal is straightforward.