Norfolk's massive solar farm boom has ignited debate over the balance between food production and green energy on the county's farmland.

The county has become a major solar energy hotspot, with five projects revealed in the last 10 weeks which, if approved, would cover a total of 17,000 acres of countryside.

It has sparked concerns that the "gold rush" for renewable energy is coming at the expense of vital farmland and food production, while creating a "blight" on the landscape.

The Labour government has launched an ambitious bid to decarbonise the energy grid by the end of the decade - and decisions on the largest projects will ultimately rest with Ed Miliband, the secretary of state for energy and net zero, rather than local planning authorities.

This prompted Norfolk County Council leader Kay Mason Billig to criticise the government for its "blinkered and fanatical drive" to meet this target despite local concerns about the impact on rural landscapes and loss of farmland.

"There is no common sense being applied, no thought for the long-term repercussions, no thought for the impact this will have on local people, their wellbeing, the environmental damage, or their losses due to this blight," she said.

"We should not be bounced into an unacceptable and unmitigable situation. It must be stopped."

But rural agents said the arguments over the loss of farmland were too simplistic, as solar farms did not mean the complete or permanent loss of food production.

Meanwhile, solar developments are offering options to farms seeking new ways to make money from their land, after spending months battling high costs, dwindling subsidy payments and extreme weather - even before being hit by the inheritance tax bombshell in last month's budget.

Ed Blundy​​​​, head of land agency division in the King's Lynn office of Brown&Co, said solar energy presents a "powerful solution to the world’s energy needs" - and potentially a stable income for landowners in volatile times.

"Solar farms play a crucial role in reducing the UK’s reliance on imported gas and meeting ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets of 68pc by 2030 and 81pc by 2035," he said.

"For landowners, solar farms offer stable rental income, especially in a time when farming profits are increasingly unpredictable due to volatile weather patterns and reduced government subsidies.

"While concerns exist over the loss of agricultural land, projects are often approved on the basis that they cause neither permanent nor total loss of productivity.

"Many solar farms allow for dual-use, such as grazing livestock, and they can improve soil health over time. The land benefits from a 'break' during the solar farm's operational life, potentially increasing its fertility for future agricultural use."

Mr Blundy said while onshore wind farms were once the preferred renewable energy source, public opposition and planning challenges led developers to shift focus to solar farms, which are "quicker and easier to deploy, cost-effective, and often well-screened behind natural features, making them less visually intrusive".

"The development process typically involves granting an Option Agreement, during which the developer assesses site suitability through environmental and technical surveys," he said. 

"If planning permission is granted, a lease is signed for 30-40 years, after which the land is restored to its original condition.

"This arrangement provides landowners with a reliable income stream, allowing farms to remain financially viable."

But he said there were drawbacks to large-scale solar farms, which are classified as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

"Developers may gain compulsory purchase powers, meaning landowners could face pressure to cooperate or risk losing control over their land," he said.

"Tenant displacement can be a contentious issue in solar farm development, as relationships between landlords and tenants vary. However, collaborative approaches can often lead to mutually beneficial agreements, such as rent-sharing or alternative land arrangements."

Mr Blundy said solar "will remain a critical part of the UK’s energy strategy" in the long term, helping bridge the gap until other technologies become more widespread.

"Despite competing land-use demands, integrating solar farms into the energy mix is essential for addressing climate change and ensuring energy security," he said.

"Looking ahead, innovations like space-based solar collectors, tidal energy, modular nuclear and advanced storage solutions may redefine the energy landscape, but for now, solar farms remain vital for a sustainable future."