German multinational energy company Uniper is developing plans for an onshore solar project near Sutton Bonington and has launched pre-application consultations with the local community and key stakeholders.
The proposed development would cover approximately 72.9 hectares, of which approximately 30 hectares would be dedicated to solar panels. The project is expected to have a total installed capacity of 71.42 MWp (49.7 MWac).
If planning permission is granted, a community fund will be established once the site becomes operational. The PV project is expected to operate for approximately 40 years, after which the site will be decommissioned and the land restored in accordance with planning requirements.
Community consultation events will be held at Sutton Bonington Village Hall on March 18 and April 8, along with virtual online consultations.
In other news, Uniper has partnered with renewable energy developer Innova to start the development of two new solar projects in Hampshire.
The Lains Farm project, located near Andover, has a planned capacity of 24.38 MWp. The scheme received planning permission from Test Valley Borough Council in 2025.
While the other project at South Lynch Farm in Winchester has a planned capacity of 20.31 MWp. Planning permission has been obtained for the project from Winchester City Council. The plans for both schemes were submitted by Innova.
Uniper, the sole owner of the projects, could start construction as early as 2027, subject to a final investment decision. Both projects secured Contracts for Difference (CfDs) in allocation round 7a (AR7a), providing long-term inflation-linked revenue support.
When Uniper announced FIDs for five solar projects totaling 288 MWp in Britain and Poland in mid-January, Uniper had a total solar pipeline of approximately 568 MWp in progress.
The company, which has a portfolio of 18.5 GW of generation across technologies including gas, coal, hydro and nuclear, has said it aims to invest around €8 billion (£6.9 billion) in energy transition projects and develop 8 GW of turnkey wind and solar power by the end of this decade.
