VDTpanl
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Established 2015

Powering Agriculture With Clean Energy

VDTPanl was built on a simple idea: farms deserve affordable, reliable energy that does not depend on volatile utility markets. We combine deep agricultural knowledge with solar engineering expertise to create systems that genuinely work for farming operations.

VDTPanl team installing solar panels on a large agricultural barn roof in Somerset
11+
Years of Experience
Our Story

Born From a Farmer's Frustration With Rising Energy Bills 🌱

VDTPanl was founded in 2015 by Richard Thornton, a third-generation Somerset farmer who watched his energy costs nearly triple over a five-year period. After installing solar panels on his own dairy farm and seeing his electricity bill drop by over 60%, he recognised that other agricultural businesses could benefit from the same approach but many lacked the technical guidance to get started.

Richard partnered with electrical engineer Claire Waverly to create a company that understood both sides of the equation: the practical realities of farm life and the technical demands of high-performance solar installations. That combination remains at the heart of everything we do.

From a two-person operation working out of a converted barn, VDTPanl has grown to a team of 38 specialists including structural engineers, electricians, project managers, and agricultural consultants. We have installed over 14,500 solar panels across more than 500 farms in England, Wales, and Scotland. Every system we design starts with a conversation about what the farm actually needs, not a generic catalogue of products.

MCS Certified
RECC Member
NAPIT Approved
What Drives Us

Our Mission & Core Values ☀️

We exist to make clean energy accessible, practical, and profitable for every farm in the United Kingdom. Our values shape every decision we make, from the components we select to the way we communicate with our customers.

Our Mission

To accelerate the adoption of solar energy in UK agriculture by delivering installations that are engineered for farm environments, priced fairly, and backed by genuine long-term support. We believe that energy independence strengthens farming communities and contributes to a more resilient food production system. Every farm we work with gets closer to a future where energy costs are predictable, carbon footprints are smaller, and rural businesses can thrive without being at the mercy of wholesale electricity markets.

Aerial view of solar panels on farm buildings surrounded by green agricultural fields

Honest Guidance

We will always tell you the truth about what solar can and cannot do for your specific situation. If a system does not make financial sense for your farm, we will say so. We never oversell capacity or exaggerate projected savings. Our reputation depends on delivering results that match or exceed the forecasts we present during the consultation phase, and we take that responsibility seriously.

Agriculture First

Every member of our design and installation team has received specific training in agricultural building types, farm electrical systems, and the operational rhythms of different farming enterprises. We schedule installations around calving seasons, harvest periods, and daily milking routines because we understand that your farm cannot stop running while we work. Our systems are built to withstand the dust, moisture, and chemical exposure common in agricultural settings.

Engineering Excellence

We use only Tier 1 panels, inverters with proven field reliability, and mounting systems rated for UK wind and snow loads. Every installation undergoes a detailed structural assessment before work begins, and a full commissioning process after completion. We do not cut corners on cable sizing, earthing, or surge protection because those details determine whether a system runs reliably for 25 years or develops problems within the first five.

Environmental Responsibility

Sustainability is not a marketing tagline for us. We track the environmental impact of every system we install and report back to our customers annually. We participate in panel recycling programmes to ensure end-of-life components are handled responsibly. Our own offices and workshop run entirely on renewable energy, and we offset the carbon footprint of our vehicle fleet through verified UK woodland planting schemes.

Long-Term Partnership

Our relationship with each farm extends far beyond the installation date. We provide remote monitoring, annual performance reviews, and proactive maintenance alerts for the life of your system. Many of our earliest customers from 2015 and 2016 still call us when they have questions about expanding their systems or adding battery storage. We want to be your energy partner for decades, not just a contractor who disappears after commissioning.

Local Commitment

VDTPanl is headquartered in Glastonbury, Somerset, and all of our team members live within the communities we serve. We hire locally, train apprentices from rural areas, and contribute to agricultural shows and farming events throughout the year. When a customer calls with an issue, they speak to someone who understands their region, their weather patterns, and the specific challenges of farming in their area.

The People Behind VDTPanl

Meet Our Leadership Team 👥

Our leadership combines agricultural roots with technical expertise. Each member of our senior team brings a distinct perspective that ensures we deliver solar solutions truly tailored to farm environments.

Portrait of Richard Thornton VDTPanl co-founder and managing director

Richard Thornton

Co-Founder & Managing Director

Third-generation Somerset farmer who saw first-hand how solar could transform agricultural economics. Richard oversees company strategy and maintains close relationships with farming associations across the South West.

Portrait of Claire Waverly VDTPanl co-founder and technical director

Claire Waverly

Co-Founder & Technical Director

Chartered electrical engineer with 18 years of experience in renewable energy systems. Claire leads our engineering team and is responsible for system design standards, component selection, and quality assurance protocols.

Portrait of David Mcallister VDTPanl head of operations

David McAllister

Head of Operations

Former project manager for a national construction firm, David joined VDTPanl in 2017. He coordinates all installation schedules, manages our supply chain, and ensures every project is delivered on time and within budget.

Portrait of Helen Briggs VDTPanl agricultural liaison manager

Helen Briggs

Agricultural Liaison Manager

With a degree in agricultural sciences from Harper Adams University and ten years of experience in farm consultancy, Helen ensures our installations work around farm operations and helps customers access available grants and funding schemes.

Our full team of 38 professionals includes structural engineers, MCS-certified electricians, and dedicated customer support staff.

Get in touch with our team
Our Journey

Key Milestones Along the Way 📅

From a small operation in Somerset to one of the UK's most trusted agricultural solar installers, here are the moments that shaped our growth.

Company Founded

Richard Thornton and Claire Waverly establish VDTPanl in Glastonbury, Somerset. Initial focus on small to medium dairy farm installations across the South West.

15
2015
2017
17

100th Installation & MCS Certification

Completed our 100th farm solar installation. Achieved full MCS certification, enabling customers to access government incentive schemes including the Smart Export Guarantee.

Expanded to Ground-Mount & Battery Storage

Launched our agrivoltaic ground-mounted system range and began offering integrated battery storage solutions. Team grew to 20 employees.

19
2019
2021
21

National Coverage & Monitoring Platform Launch

Extended operations to cover all of England, Wales, and southern Scotland. Launched our proprietary cloud-based monitoring platform, giving every customer real-time generation tracking via web and mobile.

10,000th Panel & ISO 14001 Certification

Installed our 10,000th solar panel. Awarded ISO 14001 environmental management certification. Recognised as "Renewable Energy Installer of the Year" by the South West Business Awards.

23
2023
2025–2026
26

500+ Farms & Growing Strong

Surpassed 500 completed farm installations and 14,500 panels deployed. Team expanded to 38 professionals. Now offering commercial-scale systems up to 1MW+ for large agricultural estates and cooperative farming groups.

VDTPanl by the Numbers 📊

Tangible results that reflect our commitment to quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction across every installation we complete.

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Panels Installed
0
Farms Served
0
Team Members
0/5
Average Customer Rating
Our Approach

We Design Around Your Farm, Not the Other Way Around 🔧

Generic solar companies treat every roof the same. We start by understanding your farming operation: what type of agriculture you practise, when your energy demand peaks, which buildings have the best structural capacity, and what your long-term plans look like. This information shapes every aspect of the system we propose.

A dairy farm with two daily milking sessions and cold storage has completely different energy needs from an arable operation running grain dryers at harvest time. A poultry house with continuous ventilation requirements needs a different battery configuration than a mixed livestock farm. We account for these differences at the design stage, not as an afterthought.

Our site assessments typically take 2 to 3 hours because we walk every building, check every distribution board, and have a detailed conversation about how your farm uses energy throughout the seasons. That investment of time at the start means the system we propose is precisely matched to what you actually need.

Detailed Site Survey
Energy Profile Analysis
Custom CAD Design
Financial Modelling
VDTPanl engineer conducting site survey on farmland with measuring equipment
Free Assessment
No obligation, no pressure
Accreditations

Certified, Accredited, and Trusted 🏆

Our certifications demonstrate our commitment to the highest industry standards. Every accreditation we hold is independently audited and renewed annually to ensure ongoing compliance.

MCS Certified

Microgeneration Certification Scheme accredited installer, enabling customers to access government incentive programmes including the Smart Export Guarantee.

RECC Member

Full member of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code, providing additional consumer protection and a commitment to transparent, fair business practices.

NAPIT Approved

Registered with the National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers, confirming our electrical installations meet Part P of the Building Regulations.

ISO 14001

Certified environmental management system demonstrating our systematic approach to minimising our own environmental impact across all business operations.

Ready to Talk About Solar for Your Farm?

Whether you are just starting to explore the idea or you have specific requirements in mind, our team is here to help. Book a free, no-obligation site assessment and let us show you what solar could do for your operation.

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