Solar energy developer Lightsource bp has been granted planning permission for its 57MW Plas Power Solar and Energy Storage project in Wrexham, North East Wales.
The company selected this location due to its proximity to an electrical grid connection point at the Legacy Substation.
The land falls under the category of lower quality agricultural land. Once built, the project will allow agricultural use to continue with the opportunity to include environmental improvements and benefits for the local community, the developer said.
It added that the area is designed to minimize disturbance to wildlife such as otters, salamanders and birds, while existing habitats will be improved and new habitats created. This includes a plot of land exclusively for creating habitats next to Coedpoeth, including flower meadows and polar grasslands, ponds and invertebrate banks.
Location of Lightsource bp’s Plas Power Solar and Energy Storage Project.
The project has also taken into account feedback from the local community, with the developer updating the proposals for the project to include additional trees and hedge planting to the north of the site, which will provide better screening for properties on Tan Llan.
Overall, Lightsource bp expects a net biodiversity gain of almost 64% for habitats and 72% for hedgerows across the site.
A timetable for the start of construction and commercial operation of the project has not yet been announced by the developer, but the solar PV portion of the project has secured a connection date before 2030 and is awaiting final confirmation on the completion date.
Solar Power Portal contacted Lightsource bp about the capacity of the project, how much of the 57 MW is solar energy and the duration of the battery energy storage system.
