Two white men in hi-vis safety gear stand at a construction site
(left) Andrew McCreadie, site agent for Cheetham Hill Construction, and OnPath Energy development planner Will Rust at the Barnsdale Solar Energy Park. Image: OnPath Energy.

Renewable energy developer OnPath Energy has begun construction on a 40MW solar project in West Yorkshire.

Located east of the city of Leeds, the Barnsdale Solar Energy Park secured unanimous planning approval in 2021. Construction has now begun on the 50 hectares of land that will host the solar PV power plant, with local contractor Cheetham Hill Construction starting work on the entrance to the site to facilitate further construction in the new year. The development will directly connect to the grid at the nearby Ledston Primary substation at the south-east of the site.

Part of the development plans for the site include what OnPath Energy claims is the biggest increase in biodiversity for any renewable energy project within Leeds to date, with a 106% biodiversity net gain expected on the site. This will be achieved through the planting of wildflower meadows, native trees, scrub and hedgerows, as well as the creation of new wetland habitats.

OnPath Energy had previously considered installing a co-located battery energy storage system (BESS) onsite, even submitting a further planning application for this to Leeds City Council in May of 2023. However, OnPath Energy later withdrew this expanded planning application at the request of the council, who requested additional information before an application could be resubmitted.

Will Rust, development planner at OnPath Energy, says: “This is a significant landmark in the development of a project that will deliver a wide range of environmental, ecological, energy security and social benefits to local communities and the wider region.

“The Barnsdale Solar Energy Park will also further extend the contribution OnPath Energy is making in Yorkshire towards meeting the UK’s crucial Net Zero targets, and we’re excited to see development work now starting at the Barnsdale site.”

OnPath on the road to success

As reported by our sister site, Current±, OnPath Energy has this month sold its remaining 50.1% stake in the Kype Muir Wind Farm Extension to funds owned by Schroders Greencoat, who now wholly own the Kype Muir Wind Farm Extension.

The Yorkshire region has also seen other major solar news this month. A 55MW solar PV power plant, owned and operated by Atrato Onsite Energy, came online last week, becoming the region’s largest operational solar development. UK utility OVO Energy has agreed a three-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Atrato, and will offtake approximately 49GWh of electricity each year from the site.