Renewable energy developers PS Renewables and Ørsted have announced a second round of community consultations for their proposed One Earth Solar Farm and updated proposals for the project.
The proposed solar farm, which will be mainly located in Nottinghamshire, could supply 740MW of energy to the National Grid, enough to power more than 200,000 homes. This production volume qualifies the project as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), meaning it will require a Development Consent Order (DCO) from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and net zero.
This second round of public consultations follows an earlier round that took place in autumn 2023. Feedback from the previous consultation, as well as environmental and technical reports, informed the new and improved project proposals. From May 29 to July 9, people can share their opinions through various in-person and online meetings.
Matt Hazell, co-owner of PS Renewables said: “We are delighted to launch the second consultation for One Earth Solar Farm. We appreciate everyone who took the time to provide feedback during the initial consultation. We have carefully considered the feedback we received and have made a number of significant changes to the project, which we will present at this second consultation.”
Randall Linfoot, Investment and Program Manager at Ørsted added: “This project marks an exciting milestone for Ørsted as we bring our expertise in renewable energy projects to solar in the UK. In line with our other projects, we want to work with local residents, community groups and elected officials to ensure that the project is developed in a way that is sensitive to the community and the environment, and that the benefits of the project are felt in the society. the local environment.”
As the number of solar projects grows, the support of local communities is a key factor in bringing projects to development.
In March, the Secretary of State refused planning permission for a 49MW solar farm in Nottinghamshire, believing it would have a significant impact on the appearance and character of the local landscape. This happened despite an environmental report showing that the project would have delivered a net biodiversity gain of 195% for the area.
Meanwhile, local officials have raised concerns about a lack of transparency for communities in the construction permit process. Councilor Andrew Stringer of Suffolk County Council recently called for “answers from the developer”, Elmya Energy, regarding proposed plans for a 200MW, 750 hectare solar farm in mid-Suffolk.
Solar Power Portal’s publisher Solar Media will host the UK Solar Summit on June 4-5, 2024 in London. The event will explore the new UK utility and rooftop solar landscape, look at the opportunities within a GW+ annual market, and much more. For more information, go to the website.
