Plans for solar farm in Whitchurch submitted

G Power Solar Ltd has submitted plans to Shropshire Council for it to be at a 24.5 hectare site at The Beeches, off Alkington Road, near to the A41.

The proposal also includes a battery energy storage facility and associated infrastructure.

Rachael Leather, from Atticus Planning, said the solar farm would produce up to 10MW of renewable energy, capable of saving 2,150 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. This, she says, is the equivalent of the annual electrical needs of around 3,000 family homes in England (nearly 3 per cent of Shropshire’s population.)

Sheep grazing will be maintained, said Ms Leather, with it taking place around the panels, which have a lifespan of around 40 years.

"Installing the panels involves very minimal ground disturbance; the panels are supported by an upright pole and piled driven into the ground with no concrete foundations," she said.

"There will be a series of five inverters across the site which will each comprise a metal box on a concrete base. In addition, a Domestic Network Operators (DNO) building and substation will be located within the site, and will all be mounted onto concrete bases.

"Elevations plans of the equipment have been submitted as part of this application, showing the relationship to the site level.

"The layout has been designed to make the most efficient use of the site and avoid impacts on the environment, including trees, hedgerows, ponds and watercourses. All panels have an anti-glare coating to minimise glint and glare as much as possible."

Meanwhile, there will be four 20ft and two 40ft Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) units, housed in individual containers, each with a height of 2.6m. The equipment will sit on concrete plinths within a fenced compound.

The BESS, when fully charged, will be able to store up to 12.5MW of power, which will feed into the electricity network, with CCTV cameras on the site.

"The point of connection to the grid is yet to be confirmed, the applicant is currently engaging with discussion with Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN)," added Ms Leather.

"However, there is a potential point of connection located 1km to the east."

A 'planting plan' has been submitted, which states that there will be a proposed native hedgerow, with all existing trees and hedgerows being retained and existing watercourses enhanced.

Meanwhile, the existing vehicular access would also be retained and used for both the construction and operational phases.

"Due to the scale and nature of the proposed solar farm, maintenance would be minimal," said Ms Leather.

"Access tracks are proposed within the site, to allow maintenance vehicles to access the equipment, when required and farmers to tend to the sheep, which will be constructed from crushed stone."