Welsh renewable energy company Dulas and project developer vento ludens have submitted a planning application for a 15.5MW solar park.
Located at Glebe Farm near Bedford, the proposed 65,800-paneled solar park would cover an area of 27 hectares.
The park is estimated to generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of approximately 3,705 homes, almost 6% of the homes in Bedford Borough Council.
The proposed scheme would increase the capacity of renewables in Bedfordshire by nearly 25% and would result in a 6,797 kg/year reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
Prepared in partnership by Dulas and vento ludens the planning application for the site conforms to local and national policy on renewables and follows a comprehensive public consultation which included a series of public exhibitions in the locality. A response to the planning application is expected in May.
Sanjay Bowry, chief executive officer at Dulas said: “This scheme will contribute greatly to the impending UK energy gap due to the planned decommissioning of up to 22GW of conventional power generation over the next five years.”
Dr Jay Butler, UK managing director of vento ludens, said: “Glebe Farm Solar Park could be a first class solar photovoltaic project. We believe that large-scale solar projects can become significant power sources for our common future.
“Furthermore, we believe that this project will present a real opportunity for members of the community to be involved in providing benefits to local people, which is something we feel strongly about. Many ideas were suggested to us during the pre-submission consultation such as, improved street lighting and a need for additional community space at the local school. Further consultation will be carried out should the Glebe Farm project get consent.”