British Solar Renewables (BSR) has partnered with recycling firm SITA UK in a deal that could see a number of landfill sites across the UK turned into solar farms.
SITA UK is exploring installing solar on its capped landfill sites in order to boost the productivity of this land. The company already extracts methane gas from closed landfills but is interested in maximising the usefulness of its capped projects.
BSR is now assessing the suitability of SITA UK’s landfill estate, putting together a shortlist of solar-capable sites. The move follows a successful tender from the Somerset-based solar developer.
SITA UK said that one of the reasons the company chose to work with BSR was due to the company’s previous experience of building on landfill sites.
Commenting on the deal, Geraint Rees, general manger for landfill at SITA UK said: “This renewable energy technology will complement the existing energy plants operated on a number of our landfill sites, which contribute a significant amount of sustainable energy to the National Grid by capturing landfill gases.”
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) recently published guidance to its members which called for solar developers to target brownfield sites such as landfill over land with higher agricultural value.