The UK Planning Inspectorate (PINS) yesterday (December 3) announced government approval for a 190MW ground-mounted solar PV installation in North Yorkshire.
The Helios Renewable Energy Project is considered a Nationally Important Infrastructure Project (NSIP) due to its size and was submitted to PINS by Enso Green Holdings in July 2024.
Enso Green Holdings is a joint venture between British developer Enso Energy and European IPP Cero Generation.
In addition to 190 MW of solar energy, the Helios project will feature a battery energy storage system (BESS), the capacity of which has not been disclosed; Solar energy portal has contacted the developers for more information. It will connect to the National Grid at Drax Power Station and will include landscape mitigation and biodiversity measures.
NSIPs require a Development Consent Order (DCO) to be approved by the Energy Secretary or a Minister on his behalf. This decision was taken by Minister Martin McCluskey.
The Helios Renewable Energy Project is the 12the Solar NSIP has been approved since the current government came to power, following the DCOs for Evolution Power’s 99.9MW Stonestreet Green solar-plus-storage project and the UK’s largest solar NSIP, the 500MW Tillbridge Solar power station from renewable developers Tribus Clean Energy and Recurrent Energy.
Enso and Cero have the first solar and storage project to be connected at transmission level.
