The UK government has granted planning permission for a 600 MW solar power plant with storage.
Image: Avi Waxman, Unsplash
Planning permission has been granted for a 600 MW solar and energy storage project in the UK, the largest PV installation by capacity to date. This means that project developer Eiland Groene Stroom can now continue construction on the utility site.
Cottam Solar Project was granted a Development Consent Order (DCO) on September 5, 2024, following consultation with local stakeholders and a lengthy investigation process. In England, projects with a capacity of more than 50 MW must be approved by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), following an investigation by the UK Planning Inspectorate. The Cottam Solar Project DCO is the fourth consent order issued by DESNZ Secretary of State Ed Miliband since taking office in July 2024. It brings the total number of DCOs granted to solar projects in England to seven, with the first awarded to the 373 MW Cleve Hill solar project in 2020.
Miliband’s decision to award the DCO comes despite some local opposition to the factory, which straddles the border of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. Over the summer, the Secretary of State sought clarification on issues ranging from land ownership to ecological issues, such as the developer’s biodiversity and habitat management obligations.
When commissioned, the 600 MW plant will use a grid connection to the nearby Cottam 400 kV substation. The network infrastructure previously served EDF’s 2GW Cottam coal-fired power station, which was switched off in September 2019.
Cottam Solar is one of two major solar projects in the area being developed by Island Green Power. The 480 MW West Burton Solar project is also subject to DCO approval. The Planning Inspectorate has completed its investigation of the site and the Minister of Foreign Affairs has until November 8, 2024 to make a ruling.
The wave of DCOs issued by DESNZ in 2024 was accompanied by a UK government consultation on possible changes to the consent process for larger solar power plants in England. Due to the resource-intensive nature of obtaining a DCO, few projects have been developed in the 50 MW to 150 MW range. The government claims that raising the threshold for DESNZ approval to 150MW could result in faster consent at a lower cost to developers because projects would be handled through local government planning systems. Industry stakeholders have until September 24, 2024 to respond to the planning consultation.
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