Consultations underway for 1 GW of solar, storage in UK

Once operational, the Great North Road Solar Park in Nottinghamshire, England, could meet the power needs of around 400,000 homes. A spokesperson for the project’s design team has told pv magazine that the installation site is currently owned by private landowners, but the acquisition process is set to be completed shortly.
Image: Mariana Proença, Unsplash

A public consultation is now underway for a proposed 1 GW solar and energy storage park in Trent, Nottinghamshire, England.

UK-based developer Elements Green, which has a 7 GW greenfield pipeline of renewable energy projects throughout the world, is launching the Great North Road Solar Park project.

Subject to approval, the project will have a potential generating capacity of around 800 MW (AC) of solar power. Elements Greens said it will have the potential to meet the power needs of around 400,000 homes, which is equivalent to the number of homes in Nottinghamshire.

The project site spans approximately 2,900 hectares of agricultural land. The PV part of the development is currently 1,600 hectares, with the remaining area designated for cables and access roads.

A spokesperson for the project’s design team told pv magazine that the land in question is owned by numerous private landowners. However, the person said that the land acquisition process will be completed shortly. They added that it is too early in the process to know how the Great North Road Solar Park will sell its energy, but all options remain open.

The first stage of the consultation – a six-week long window with opportunities for feedback from the local community and stakeholders at online and in-person events – is currently ongoing and will end on Feb. 27. 

Mark Noone, project director for Great North Road Solar Park, said the plans for the park align with the British Energy Security Strategy, which aims to increase the United Kingdom’s solar capacity fivefold by 2035. 

“With an installed capacity of over one gigawatt (GW) DC, GNR Solar Park would contribute 1.5% towards this target,” said Noone. “We want to deliver this project responsibly and are committed to consulting as widely and efficiently as possible, working together with residents, businesses and community organisations to improve and enhance our proposals as our plans for the project progress.”

Due to its proposed generation capacity, the Great North Road Solar Park is classified as a “Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.” Elements Green plans to submit a development consent order application to the UK Secretary of State for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero in spring 2025.

Written by

Comments

Elements Green secures grid connection for 800 MWh battery storage project in Germany – Energy Storage
Jul 10, 2024

[…] January, the company launched public consultations on plans for Great North Road Solar Park in Nottinghamshire, England, with a potential generation capacity of 800 MW and coupled with a 200 MW battery energy […]

Elements Green's 360MW/720MWh battery storage project secures green light – Energy Storage
Jun 24, 2024

[…] nation’s largest renewable energy projects. In January this year, a public consultation and the land acquisition process was underway for the proposed PV […]

Avviata la consultazione per un impianto solare e di accumulo da 1 GW nel Regno Unito – Accumulo & Fotovoltaico
Feb 15, 2024

[…] essere finalizzata, gli esperti di settore e la comunità locale sono invitati a partecipare alle consultazioni pubbliche per il parco solare e di accumulo energetico proposto da 1 GW a Trent, […]