Renewables developer RES has submitted its planning application for a 49.9MW solar PV development co-located with energy storage.
The Beane Solar Farm project, to be located on last west of Cottered in Hertfordshire, will include energy storage co-located with the solar array, although the capacity of the battery energy storage system (BESS) is not given. The planning application does not include a grid connection; it is anticipated that the solar PV plant will connect to existing power lines crossing the site.
According to RES, the final design of the development was shaped by feedback from stakeholders and the local community, which has seen all solar infrastructure removed from a southwest section of the site. This area will now be used for the provision of skylark plots. RES also moved the infrastructure further from neighbouring residential properties to the south of the site following community feedback.
The site is predicted to have a biodiversity net gain of 98.40% in habitats units, 189.90% in hedgerow units and 10.19% in watercourse units. The site has also been designed for dual use with agricultural grazing; as a result of this, and the “temporary” nature of solar developments, it is concluded that the Beane Solar Farm would not cause significant loss of agricultural land.
Jonny Wilks, development project manager for RES said: “One of the key points raised during local consultation on this project was the need for natural screening and biodiversity. We’re pleased to be able to propose a scheme that not only continues to support agricultural use but is expected to deliver significant biodiversity benefit alongside clean, low-cost energy generation.”
According to RES, “careful landscape design” includes the addition of wildlife corridors, native hedgerows, and wildflower meadows.
Centering biodiversity in solar development
Although the solar industry in the UK has continued to demonstrate that solar plants do not negatively impact biodiversity, it is a key concern of local communities when developers put plans forward.
Like RES, Elements Green has made biodiversity and agrivoltaics a key focus in the development of its latest major solar power plant. It recently renamed the 800MW Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park as part of a partnership agreed with the RSPB, Sherwood Forest Trust, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and the Trent Rivers Trust to ensure nature benefits from the development.
Following that, Elements Green announced that once the development comes online, which it estimates will be in 2027, a flock of almost 4,000 sheep will graze the solar park’s fields, which could increase up to 9,000 once lambing begins.
