Fosse Green Energy Limited is conducting a regulatory consultation for a ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) solar generating station with battery storage that will generate and export/import electricity in excess of 50 MW.
Fosse Green Energy, a partnership between northeast England-based developer Windel Energy and Canadian Solar subsidiary Recurrent Energy, plans to locate the project 9km southwest of Lincoln.
Due to its generation capacity, solar energy development is classified as a Nationally Important Infrastructure Project (NSIP). As such, the developers have announced that they will apply to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero for a Development Consent Order (DCO).
A battery energy storage system (BESS) will be installed alongside ground-mounted solar panels, storing excess energy to be released into the grid when necessary. Under section 47 of the Planning Act 2008, community consultation is required before a DCO application can be submitted.
It follows an initial non-statutory consultation in autumn 2023, during which Fosse Green Energy Limited presented a preliminary study area and two grid connection corridor options. Fosse Green Energy says it has “listened carefully to feedback” and this consultation includes updated plans accordingly.
The project includes an underground cable link to the proposed new National Grid Substation near Navenby, for which National Grid will submit a separate planning application.
According to Lloyd Sandles, project director at Windel Energy, the feedback from the initial consultation was “invaluable” in shaping the developers’ plans.
Sandles explains: “We have selected and refined a desired network connection corridor to the proposed Navenby Substation to minimize social and environmental impact. We also present our plans for the landscaping and the construction work that we have to carry out.”
James Whitney, business development manager at Recurrent Energy added: “The solar panels and other associated infrastructure would occupy a small percentage of the land within our red line boundary, creating opportunities for planting and screening at the site.
“We also look at how we can benefit the local community in a way that works best for them and are keen to get people’s views on any community programs or projects we could get involved with.”
Recurrent and Windel work together
The Fosse Green Energy project is one of the many projects on which Recurrent and Windel collaborate.
In July, the pair received approval for a 200MW/400MWh, 2-hour BESS in Carlisle, shortly after their 9.9MW solar development in Wales was approved. Most notably, the Mallard Pass solar farm was one of three NSIPs to receive a DCO from Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband shortly after the Labor government came to power.
The development was pending the consent of former secretary Claire Coutinho, which was first postponed by the former foreign minister before the general election pushed back a decision further.
Ed Miliband has spoken out in favor of the large-scale development of solar energy in Britain, which represents a positive change for the sector.
