Sedgemore District Council has granted planning permission for a 1MW community-owned solar park in Wedmore, Somerset.
The Wedmore Community Power Co-operative estimates that the £1.1 million scheme will provide enough clean energy to power 300 local homes.
The cooperative is hoping to raise the capital required for the project by issuing shares in the project to locals. Currently, the cooperative is looking to raise £150,000 with its ‘Pioneer Share Offer’. Wedmore Community Power Co-operative anticipates that its Main Share Offer Document will be released in June 2013.
Local fears about the impact of the proposed solar park have been allayed by the inclusion of native hedgerows that will screen the array from public footpaths. Sheep will also continue to graze on the solar park land – supporting the viability of the farms as well as negating the need for site maintenance with petrol-driven strimmers.
The proposals specify that the solar park will use approximately 4,000 REC solar modules.