Tithe Farm, United Kingdom Solar plant

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).

The Tithe Solar Farm project will connect to the nearby National Grid Willoughby Substation through a connection into an existing 33kV underground line and will supply electricity to the local distribution network.

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 to the national distribution system, as well as the 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.

As such this development seeks to mitigate harm through local benefits including biodiversity net gain, community benefit fund  and sources of local employment.

There will be approximately 40 movements per day. This will be weighted more heavily in the first few months when most of the civil and electrical work would be undertaken. Through careful route planning and traffic management, we will work to minimise the impact on the local community.

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.

Ground mounted solar installations account for approximately 0.1% of all land take across the UK. To reach significantly scale up our solar development 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.

The majority of the site is not considered to be best and most versatile land 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.