EDF Renewables unveils plans for 49.9MW Cornish solar farm

EDF Renewables has announced plans to develop a 49.9MW solar farm in mid-Cornwall.

The Trelion solar farm proposal, which is to be situated north of Grampound Road and west of St Stephen, will include a community fund of £20,000 to be paid annually for the 40-year lifetime of the project.

EDF confirmed that it will hold public consultation events later this year to gather feedback on the plans ahead of the submission of a planning application to Cornwall Council. Ecological and feasibility surveys of the site are already being carried out.

“We believe this is a great site for a solar farm as it’s suitably sunny and the area is well screened,” said Grant Folley, head of origination and planning at EDF Renewables UK.

“EDF Renewables is an experienced developer, and we are firmly committed to having both a positive impact on the environment and the local community. Over the next few months, we look forward to discussing our plans with residents and organisations in the area.

“We already have an agreed grid connection in place, meaning that Trelion Solar Farm is in a great position to help create a net zero future where clean energy powers our lives. Both Cornwall Council and the UK Government have ambitious targets to be carbon neutral and solar is a key building block in the UK’s future energy mix.”

Cornwall has seen an influx of solar projects over the course of the previous year. In January 2023, Solar Power Portal reported that solar and battery developer Renewable Connections was set to develop a 49.9MW solar farm near Quintrell Downs with the project having been approved by elected members of Cornwall Council. Construction is scheduled for 2024.

In March 2022, Lightsource bp stated that it had finished construction of a 5MW solar PV project for food producer Saputo Dairy for its Davidstow creamery.

The solar project included a 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA) between both companies and would deliver 5307MWh of electricity per year.