Why is the scheme needed?
UK Climate Targets
The Climate Change Act commits the UK government by law to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 100% of 1990 levels (net zero) by 2050.
The environmental impact of climate change is also linked to significant damage to the UK economy. However, combined, the net-zero transition (estimated to cost a maximum of 2% of UK GDP) is expected to have a net benefit of around 4% of GDP (LSE 2022). Addressing climate change will protect and benefit the UK economy as well.
HM Government’s Net Zero Strategy: Build back greener (2021) confirms:
“By 2035 the UK will be powered entirely by clean electricity, subject to security of supply.”
“A low-cost, net zero consistent electricity system is most likely to be composed predominantly of wind and solar generation”
“The net zero economy will be underpinned by cheap clean electricity, made in Britain. A clean, reliable power system is the foundation of a productive net zero economy as we electrify other sectors – so we will fully decarbonise our power system by 2035”.
Energy Security – “home grown energy”
The UK’s Energy Security Strategy (2022) focuses on expanding domestic UK energy supply alongside commitments to completely remove Russian oil and coal imports by the end of 2022, and Russian gas “as soon as possible thereafter”.
It identifies the need for five times as much solar PV deployment by 2035.
Ground mounted solar is relatively cheap and very quick to deploy. It can make a significant contribution to the UK meeting its own energy needs.
Government food policy
The UK Government Food Security Report, published in December 2021, is explicit: “The biggest medium to long term risk to the UK’s domestic production comes from climate change and other environmental pressures like soil degradation, water quality and biodiversity.”
The report quantifies this risk, noting that under a medium emissions scenario, climate change could reduce the proportion of ‘Best and Most Versatile’ agricultural land from a baseline of 38.1% to 11.4% by 2050. This would mean a reduction in the UK’s prime agricultural land of almost three quarters.
The Solar Energy UK Briefing confirms that evidence is already available: for example, the drought of 2022 literally caused the potato crop to shrink. Climate change causes crop failure, and solar farms help address climate change. This means solar farms are helping to defend UK and global food supply.
Local Targets
Why this site?
This application will be supported by a suite of technical reports which will assess the impacts of the development and explain how the scheme can be implemented in a careful and sensitive manner. Indeed, the site is well suited to accommodate the proposed solar farm development as illustrated by the following key points:
- It is located within viable proximity of a connection to the local electricity network
- It is available for the proposed duration of the scheme
- The majority of the site is lower grade agricultural land
- The site is not subject to any designated Landscape (AONB, Green Belt or National Park)
- No designated Heritage Assets including listed buildings, registered parklands and Scheduled Monuments would be effected
- It avoids sensitive ecological designations (SSSI, RAMSAR Sites or Wildlife Reserves)
- Offers an opportunity to deliver substantial ecological enhancements through a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
- It is located away from nearby residential properties to avoid any amenity impacts
- It is located outside of the Flood Zone
- It benefits from a suitable access for construction and maintenance purposes
- It is sufficiently distanced from other solar farm developments (proposed and existing) as to avoid any significant intervisibility between the projects
- The site also sits well within the landscape and the existing hedgerows and planting allows for the panels to be accommodated with the site without appearing prominently within the wider landscape.
Decline of centralised fossil fuel power stations and decarbonise the grid
Seven nuclear power stations have already been decommissioned in recent years and all 14 of the UKs coal fired power stations are set to be closed by 2025 (with only three currently operating). New energy generation is essential and with the escalating climate and ecological crisis, there is an unprecedented need for electricity to be provided urgently through clean renewable generators that don’t emit carbon and can support biodiversity.
An example of the mass decommissioning of fossil fuel power station is Eggborough.
Eggborough Power Station was a 2 gigawatt coal-fired generating plant in North Yorkshire, England. The power station stopped generating on 23 March 2018.
A second example of the decommissioning of a fossil fuel power station is West Burton A in Nottinghamshire. West Burton A closed on the 31st March 2023. West Burton A was capable of generating enough electricity for approximately 3.7 million UK homes and had produced enough for all the homes in the UK for 4.5 years.
The only two remaining coal fired power stations are Kilroot and Ratcliff on Soar. These are planned to be closed at the end of 2023, and September 2024 respectively. As such, there is an urgent need not just to replace these generators but to double electricity generation.
Increase in electricity demand
Electricity demand is set to double by 2050 due to the electrification of the UK including widespread use of heat pumps and electric cars.
The biggest benefit to solar farms is their role in meeting the National Grid’s renewable energy needs. They provide green electricity and reduce reliance on fossil fuels which produce harmful greenhouse gases. Solar technology is a proven source of safe, locally produced, and sustainable power. It is locally produced and secure, with no need for tax payers to subsidise its delivery.
Benefits
Click titles below to view benefits of the scheme.
- Delivers green energy generation that saves 21,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions compared to fossil fuels.
- Can be deployed quickly and removed from the land with minimal impacts when no longer required.
- Allows for agricultural land use and power generation.
- Delivers a net gain in biodiversity through new species rich native planting.
- Will deliver a Community Benefits Scheme that will support locally defined investment priorities.
- Will deliver improvements to the existing Public Rights of Way
- Will help deliver on the locally declared Climate Emergency.
- Supports sustainable farm diversification on the farming enterprise.
- Supports energy security and less reliance on importation of fossil fuels.
- Helps create a healthier environment through no air pollution.
It is estimated that this scheme will deliver the following economic benefits:
Construction Benefits
- £2.7m towards local businesses
- 41 new roles created
- 71 existing businesses supported
- 1700 employees and contractors generated
Operational Benefits
- 9754 estimated days of employment generated over its’ lifetime for maintenance and operation.
- £160,000 per annum business rate income over the life of the project.
- Over £1m gross value added.
*all figures are estimated and based upon a case study of Llanwern Solar Farm in Wales which is a similar scale