Solar energy and energy storage developer Innova has been granted planning permission for a new solar project in Gloucestershire.
The 13 MWp Welsh Way Solar Farm, located near Fairford, was approved by Cotswold District Council for an operational life of 40 years. Although an estimated start date for construction of the 19.8 hectare site has not yet been announced, Innova predicts the site will be operational in 2026.
According to Innova, the completed development will deliver a net biodiversity gain of 115.09% for the area, achieved through wildflower planting and other measures. Sheep grazing can continue on site after construction as the panels are mounted 3 meters above the ground, allowing grazing underneath.
William Griffiths, project manager at Innova, said: “We are delighted to announce that Welsh Way Solar Farm has been granted planning permission by Cotswold District Council. We are grateful to Cotswold District Council and their statutory advisors for their proactive involvement during the pre-application and planning determination stages of the project. We look forward to the next phases of the project prior to construction and operation of the project.”
Innova’s solar ambitions
The announcement comes just weeks after Innova announced it had signed a 15-year corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) for the 27.8 MW Elms Farm solar development, which it owns under its ISG Renewables joint venture (JV) with investment firm Schroders Greencoat. The agreement will see the full output of the solar power plant delivered to Anglican Water when the site is powered later this year.
Under the same ISG Renewables JV, Innova acquired a 28.7 MWp solar project in Warwickshire. The Newbold Pacey Solar Farm, which was acquired in May this year, will also be powered later in 2024.
Meanwhile, in Staffordshire in September this year, Innova received planning permission to expand the capacity of the approved Blythe Solar Farm, a co-sited solar power plant and battery energy storage system (BESS). The approved expansion plans add 16.6 MW of solar capacity to the site plans, bringing the total site capacity to 44.3 MWp of solar capacity and a BESS of 30 MW. The site is expected to be supplied with energy in 2027.
Innova currently has more than 60 distribution network operators and grid-connected projects under development in the UK, with a total solar and storage capacity of approximately 24 GW.
