New analysis from Friends of the Earth revealed that 374,900 hectares—totalling 2.9% of land in England—are suitable for new onshore wind and solar farms to generate a combined 225,000GWh.
“We need to think about the grid not only from the point of view of energy but as the backbone of the future economy,” said Michaɫ Sobczyk, head of regulation and markets at renewable energy developer EDPR Poland.
Despite leadership changes, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is still intending to review land use categories with regards to solar development, it has confirmed.
Lightrock Power has secured planning permission for a solar plant in East Devon, after receival approval from the District Council’s planning committee.
Solar Energy UK has developed a standardised methodology for monitoring biodiversity on solar farms, to help provide a better assessment of changes and aid ecological management.
Two of EDF Renewables UK’s consented 49.9MW solar PV projects are now at the site preparation and construction phase, having been added to its portfolio last year.
Connection charges for generation – including solar PV – are to be reduced, with energy regulator Ofgem having published its final decision in the Access and Forward-Looking Charges Significant Code Review (SCR).
