Give fields over to solar farms, industry urges However, conservationists warned that the new industry study, by Kronos Solar, which develops solar farms, could be used to push planning applications on greenfield land. Kronos already has a series of farms, and is planning to expand its network, with one scheme set to be the biggest in Britain if it is approved. Alexander Arcache, managing director of the German firm, said: "The ability to focus on brownfield is a myth - it's wishful thinking. If we only develop on brownfield, we will miss our renewable targets. To limit large-scale solar to brownfield makes it impossible for the UK to reach its renewable deployment targets as it would mean the certain death of the UK's large-scale solar sector, which is a strongly required contributor to achieving those targets. There are 23,859 brownfield sites listed in England by the Homes and Communities Agency, the body responsible for regeneration. Of these, 1,724 are north of Middlesbrough and lack sufficient sunlight, while only 647 are large enough to be financially viable, according to the new study. More than 600 have either already been allocated other uses or are unsuitable because of practical concerns, such as difficulties accessing the national grid - leaving only 21 potential brownfield sites. Tony Hilton, acting chairman of CPRE in Cornwall, said there was a danger of the countryside being "covered" in solar farms, warning that there already appeared to be a "free-for-all" for firms building solar farms in Cornwall. "Developers could use the study to prove a point that not all brownfield sites are suitable and therefore they must go out into the lovely green fields if they have to achieve government targets," he said. Paul Barwell, chief executive of the Solar Trade Association, said: "The report corroborates what we are hearing from our large-scale developers, that there really is not a lot of available brownfield for deploying solar farms." Last month an application by Waldon Energy to build 199 panels in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Berkshire was approved. Kronos has set out plans to build Britain's largest solar farm, on agricultural land in Houghton, Hampshire. Under the proposals, 225,456 panels would be laid out across an area the size of 100 football pitches. The scheme is intended to produce enough electricity for 31,500 people. Danny Busk, a councillor and the landowner, said it was an arable field that "doesn't really grow anything." But Houghton parish council said the plans appeared "unnecessarily industrial" and "inappropriate to the location," calling for changes to more effectively hide the panels from public view. Alan Josling, 67, from nearby Broughton, has formed Broughton Against Kronos Solar, which has 50 members and support from Caroline Noakes, the local Conservative MP. Mr Josling said: "The scale of the project is quite unsuitable for the Test Valley." He added: "Solar farms are highly inefficient and they would not operate at all if it wasn't for energy users subsidising them." Like wind farm developers, solar firms are given subsidies - ultimately added to household energy bills - under the Government's Renewables Obligation scheme. Developers who build panels on roofs will receive up to £85 for each megawatt hour of energy generated, while solar farms on land will receive £80 for each. A spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said they would examine the report's findings. "The deployment of solar PV [photovoltaics] must be carried out in a manner which is thoughtful, sustainable and respects the views of the communities among which it is deployed," he said. A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "We don't recognise Kronos Solar's figures, and any so-called research by a solar energy company which markets solar panels to farmers should be taken with a pinch of salt. The Government has published clear guidance that the need for renewable energy does not automatically override environmental protections, and local landscape and amenity need to be protected when considering solar power. Ray Noble of the National Solar Centre, an industry body, questioned the methodology of the study, saying it was "easy" to dismiss potential sites.