Renewable energy company RES has opened a second round of consultation for its Steeple Renewables Project at Sturton-le-Steeple in Nottinghamshire.
RES has a grid connection agreement for up to 600 MW of combined solar and battery energy storage, but distribution between solar and associated battery components has not yet been completed. RES says it currently expects a configuration of around 75% solar and 25% battery (400MW solar plus 200MW storage), but feedback from the consultation could see that change.
Construction of the project, which will be located near the former West Burton Power Station, is expected to represent an investment of £224 million and create 400 jobs over the 24-month construction programme.
The Steeple Renewables Project will utilize the existing network infrastructure and capacity at the West Burton substation, also limiting the amount of new infrastructure required and therefore reducing the impact on the local environment.
RES said it is keen to develop a community benefits package that would include the Local Electricity Rebate Scheme, which offers annual electricity rebates to local homes and businesses “of at least £350”.
The project is in the pre-application stage and RES expects to apply for a Development Consent Order (DCO) in the second quarter of this year, necessary as the project’s capacity classifies it as a Nationally Important Infrastructure Project (NSIP).
Feedback on the proposals will be accepted until March 3, 2025. This, in addition to ongoing environmental work, will help finalize RES’s plans.
Will Bridges, RES project manager, said: “This renewable energy project embraces the historic role the area has played in Britain’s energy supply. We believe there is an opportunity to build on this legacy and ensure that Nottinghamshire continues to play an important role in Britain’s future energy generation.”
Results of public consultation
Another solar project in Nottinghamshire, put forward by Elements Green, has also just entered the second phase of consultation. The solar power plant will also feature energy storage and has been renamed to reflect the focus on biodiversity which was a priority for the developer following local feedback in previous consultations.
Elements Green, now called the Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park, worked with the RSPB, Sherwood Forest Trust, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and the Trent Rivers Trust to ensure nature benefits from the development.
With the British public increasingly divided over solar energy, gaining local support for a project is harder, but more important than ever. A common argument against large-scale solar PV developments such as those put forward by RES and Elements Green is that rooftop solar should be the focus. Despite outspoken support for the technology, the government has just rejected a bill requiring all new-build homes to be equipped with PV panels on the roof.
