Energie -Secretary Ed Miliband has granted a development assignment (DCO) for a solar and storage project proposed by Baywa.Re
The Oaklands Farm Solar Project in South Derbyshire covers 400 hectares, with an export capacity of 162.3 MW and import of 37.5 MW, the capacity of the energy storage system on the site. The solar PV element of the project will have 138 MW generation capacity.
Baywa.re submitted his application for the project on 8 February 2024. The research authority recommended the project for acceptance on March 19, 2025.
The State Secretary considered the general planning balance and concluded that the public benefits of the proposed development outweigh the identified damage, and therefore granted the DCO.
According to the planning inspection, this was the 94th energy application at 158 applications investigated to date and was completed within the statutory period.
Baywa.Re has been committed to offering an annual community advantage of £ 55,000 a year for the 40-year lifespan of the project. It will also offer a 125% biodiversity net in Habitat units on the site.
The company announced the project for the first time in 2021 and held various community consultations on the project.
It is the eighth NSIP granted by the current energy secretary, Miliband.
Island Green Power DCO entrance accepted
In other NSIP -News, the planning inspection has accepted a DCO entry from Island Green Power (IGP) for the 500 MW Green Hill Solar Farm, which would be located near Wellingborough in Northamptonshire.
IGP has submitted its application for a DCO on 23 May. The site covers approximately 1,200 hectare predominantly agricultural land, with slightly less than half (550 ha) covered by the solar -PV panels, 190 ha for environmental restriction and improvement and the remaining country to consist of existing vegetation, field marches, further vegetation planting (around existing characteristics such as panels), gardens between panels.
A decision by the State Secretary is expected in Q4 of 2026. IGP said it will connect the project to the net in 2029.
This is shortly after IGP has opened a second round of Community Consult for another potential 500 MW of the solar energy plant, the East Pye Solar project that would be collaborated with a battery energy storage system (BESS) with capacity not yet confirmed.
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