Holland Hall Farm, United Kingdom Co-located

Solar farms are essential for the UK’s energy strategy as they provide not only a clean, fossil-fuel free source of electricity but are also one of the cheapest forms of electricity in the UK, four times cheaper than gas and two times cheaper than nuclear.

The UK Government has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of the 1990 levels by 100% before 2050 to reach Net Zero with solar power playing a key role in this target. As part of this the government has targeted 70 GW of solar power to be installed by 2035 of which there is currently 15.7 GW installed as of December 2023 (Source).

BESS sites enable energy from renewables, like solar and wind, to be stored and then released when the power is needed most. Whilst the main function is to soak up surplus clean electricity and discharge it back when needed, the system can also operate in several different modes to provide grid stability services, for example helping to manage voltage and frequency imbalances as renewable generation dips up and down. Please follow this link to find out more.

Across the UK large volumes of electricity generated by renewable generation (such as wind and solar) are lost when we cannot immediately utilise it, as we have insufficient means to store this power.

Between 2015 and 2021, the UK’s electricity system operator (ESO) curtailed, or discarded, over 13% of the total wind energy generated (REF). In 2020 and 2021, this curtailment cost the UK £806 million and wasted enough renewable electricity to power 800,000 homes, which additionally had an environmental impact, with an extra two million tonnes of CO2 emitted due to gas being used instead of wind.

Research from LCP has found that  an increase of 20GWh of battery storage could reduce the amount of wasted wind power in Britain by 50% (LCP).

This site has been chosen firstly due to the proximity to a viable point of connection into the grid network, with Spennymoor having the capacity for a timely and cost-effective connection which ultimately impacts the cost of which electricity can be supplied to end users.

We have carried out a detailed site assessment of the area around the National Grid substation to identify where we could locate the project. We considered a number of factors, including proximity the national transmission system as well as potential impact on sensitive receptors such as residential or ecological sites, planning restrictions, topography and ground conditions. Following careful assessment of each option, the final site was determined to be the most appropriate on all accounts.

Ground mounted solar installations account for approximately 0.1% of all land take across the UK. To meet our Net Zero target of 70GW it is estimated to take up to 0.3%. By comparison the amount currently used for golf courses occupies 0.5% of the UK (Carbon Brief). Regardless, when identifying solar farms the intention is to avoid the most suitable farmland for arable purposes defined as ‘Best and Most Versatile’ which is land classified as 3A and below under the Agricultural Land Classification guidance.

At Holland Hall Farm, the majority of the site will still be able to be used for agricultural purposes such as sheep grazing and due to the temporary nature of the site, the land will be returned to it it’s former state once the project is decommissioned. Furthermore, solar farms can help diversify farmer’s incomes so that they can continue farming other parts of their land.

The panels themselves make no noise, however, the inverters make a low humming sound similar to an air conditioning unit. Accompanying a planning application will be a Noise Impact Assessment which will assess this noise against the nearest sensitive receptors.

The panels are roughly 3m high, and can be screened relatively easily using bunding and landscaping methods, such as trees and hedgerows. A Landscape Visual Impact Assessment will be submitted with any planning application assessing the visual impact and recommending any necessary mitigation measures.

There will be a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain, achieved through native planting, including wildflowers, hedgerow restoration and woodland installation to support local wildlife and habitat creation.

Grenergy will also be looking to implement a community benefit fund, to deliver investment into causes and organisations in the local area.

BESS sites are under frequent scrutiny regarding fire safety, due to the large quantities of lithium-ion batteries in a confined space. Fire mitigation is therefore at the forefront of considerations at all sites like this one. The National Fire Chiefs Council provide the following advice to all developers of BESS sites. The summary of fire safety measures are as follows:

• Engagement with local fire authority and planning authority with emergency response plans, fire water management strategies and fire safety management plans
• Separation distances or thermal barriers between all equipment, including the battery containers
• Fire detection, monitoring and prevention systems installed within all battery modules
• Sufficient ventilation (cooling fans) to maintain temperatures for all potential scenarios
• Water supply – onsite to meet the demand of the local fire authority, e.g. hydrants or water tanks
• Multiple access routes and space within compounds to ensure fire engines have access to and within the site

Grenergy have taken all advice on-board to produce a design which aligns with this guidance and is detailed in the documents submitted with the full planning application.

Some traffic will be generated during the construction period, but through careful route planning and traffic management, we will work to minimise the impact to the local community. Once the site is operational, site traffic will be reduced to roughly 1-2 vans per week. A full Construction Transport Management Plan is to be submitted with the planning application.