German energy company RWE has launched a second round of consultation for the 320MW Peartree Hill Solar Farm. The proposed site is near Beverly in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
The first round of consultation took place last year and the developer has used community feedback to shape plans for the solar project, which the community is now encouraged to view.
It is an opportunity to respond to the updated proposals and will form part of RWE’s second consultation period. Peartree Hill would comprise six plots connected to the Creyke Beck substation by underground cables.
RWE has committed to achieving a net biodiversity gain of more than 50% through new planting and habitat creation. Based on last year’s feedback, she is proposing additional public recreation opportunities at the site with new and improved sidewalks, outdoor picnic areas, benches, wildflower meadows and community orchards.
A £4.2 million community benefit fund would be established over the 40-year life of the project to support local causes and initiatives. As part of RWE’s commitment to community engagement, the team will host several in-person and online events as part of the consultation.
Peartree Hill is classified as a Nationally Important Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and will go through the Development Consent Order (DCO) planning process. The Secretary of State for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero will make the final decision on whether to approve the project.
Feedback from this round will support the plans as they are finalized ahead of the DCO submission later this year.
RWE enters the United Kingdom
RWE, a German energy giant, has said it wants to commission an average of 450 MW of new solar capacity in Britain every year until 2030 to boost its global capacity, which is expected to increase by 3.9 GW to 16 GW by 2030.
The company has secured a portfolio of UK solar projects through the acquisition of developer JBM Solar. The acquisition, which was completed in March 2023, made RWE one of the most important players in the British solar energy market.
In March this year, the company began construction on its first seven solar and storage sites, representing 330 MW of solar and 45 MW of co-located battery energy storage systems (BESS). All seven projects have successfully secured Contracts for Difference (CfD) and will be built to facilitate a co-located BESS asset where one has not yet been installed. The first location is expected to be operational by the end of 2024.
Subsequently, in April, RWE signed its first UK-based solar power purchase agreement (PPA) with the UK subsidiary of Kerry Group, which will last over a decade.
As part of the agreement, RWE will supply energy from its UK solar projects Cotmoor, located in Nottinghamshire, and Copse Lodge in Northamptonshire, through two separate financial pay-as-produced PPAs.
The Cotmoor site was part of seven sites that RWE will start building this year and has already reached a Financial Investment Decision (FID). Copse Lodge Solar Farm is expected to follow in 2025.
Solar Power Portal’s publisher Solar Media will host the British suntop on June 4-5, 2024 in London. The event will explore Britain’s new utility and rooftop solar landscape, look at the opportunities within a GW+ annual market, and much more. For more information, visit the website.
