AEE Renewables has put the breaks on plans for two solar power plants in the south of England. The company, which was to build a solar power plant at Fullards Farm, Trull and an 8.2 hectare project at Whistley Farm near Gillingham, has reassessed its proposals after the Government announced a u-turn on large-scale solar support.
The new proposed feed-in tariff rates, which were revealed by Greg Barker on March 18, make solar projects over 50kW commercially unviable. The change can be seen in the tables below.
Before
Energy Source |
Scale |
Feed-in tariff (pence/kWh) |
Duration (years) |
Solar PV |
>10 – 100kW |
31.4 |
25 |
Solar PV |
>100kW – 5MW |
29.3 |
25 |
Solar PV |
Standalone |
29.3 |
25 |
After
Energy Source |
Scale |
Feed-in tariff (pence/kWh) |
Duration (years) |
Solar PV |
>50kW – ≤150kW |
19 |
25 |
Solar PV |
>150kW – ≤250kW |
15 |
25 |
Solar PV |
>250kW – ≤5MW |
8.5 |
25 |
Residents at the project locations were going to be given the chance to view the proposals before plans went ahead. The Gillingham plant was expected to receive considerable interest as it was located close to the site of a proposed wind farm at Manor Farm, Silton, which was rejected by North Dorset District Council earlier in the year.
Composed of 15,680 polycrystalline modules in 40 south-facing rows the Gillingham farm could produce enough energy to power 550 homes. The panels would also sit on low trestles and are around six feet high, allowing sheep to graze between the solar panels.
AEE has drafted a letter explaining its disappointment in the decision to cut the tariff rate so dramatically for projects of 50kW and above, which it will send to Greg Barker’s office. Plans will now remain on hold until something more concrete is announced by Government.