Determinants of farmers’ intention to invest in integrated on-farm energy production in four European countries

This paper explores farmers’ interest in on-farm renewable energy generation across Belgium, Denmark, Iceland and Poland. We focus on adoption patterns, drivers, barriers and training needs. Drawing on a literature review and a cross-country farmer survey, the study examined existing energy generation practices, availability of surplus feedstocks and intentions to invest in new renewable energy enterprises. While 54% of respondents had some form of energy generation, predominantly solar panels on buildings, only a few used more complex systems such as biogas or biomass. Logistic regression analysis identified two statistically significant predictors of near-term investment interest: presence of a farm successor and establishment costs. Farmers favoured low-barrier technologies, and financial returns and business sustainability were key motivations. High capital costs of installation and concerns over long-term land use change were major deterrents. As a result, it is unsurprising that farmers saw the need for financial incentives, such as grants and low-interest loans. In-person workshops were preferred for training. The findings suggest that, rather than viewing adoption as a single event, policymakers and advisory services should encourage continuous expansion and diversification, focusing on reducing investment barriers and making energy generation density a policy metric.

Keywords

farmers, renewable energy generation, barriers to investment, incentives and, training

Citation

Energy Reports 16 (2026) 109663

URI

https://bc.iung.pl/handle/123456789/4808
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352484726006323?lid=0ymvfocp5j7p&utm_source=braze&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=STMJ_300564_AUTH_SERV_PPUB&utm_content=b9122ef4-efb1-4968-9ca2-2f14355f6f5f&utm_term=b9122ef4-efb1-4968-9ca2-2f14355f6f5f_300564_AUTSERV-OTR_MAIN_NOAB_SINGLE_ALL&DGCID=STMJ_300564_AUTH_SERV_PPUB&se_la=6895d87b0c83eb00554b1e48&se_pr=40418496

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