Ten extra years allowed at farm
A DERBYSHIRE solar farm is set to be allowed to stay for 10 extra years - totalling 40 years - due to “enhancements in technology”, but residents are not best pleased. GSI Hawthorn Limited wants to operate its solar farm at Hawthorn Farm in Scropton Road, just north of Scropton for 40 years, up from 30 years.
It won planning permission from South Derbyshire District Council to operate a 10-megawatt solar farm from the site, close to the Faccenda/avara Foods premises, in 2022. Council officers have recommended that the 10-year extension should be approved, with councillors to make a final decision on Tuesday, April 2.
The firm, previously pitched as GS Vogt Limited, says that “until recently, 30 years was the typical operational lifetime for a solar farm”. It continues: “Due to significant and rapid enhancements in technology solar farms can now be maintained for significantly longer periods of time.”
A statement submitted with the application details: “The proposed development stands to make a substantial contribution to government renewable energy targets beyond the approved 30year lifespan as approved, both feeding green energy into the network whilst simultaneously supporting the reduction of carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuels.”
Objection letters have been submitted by 13 residents who say the 10-year extension also delays the land’s return to use for agricultural purposes.
They maintain that the development itself, which has already been approved, would worsen existing flooding issues, impact on people’s homes and surrounding views, harm wildlife and that the site would be better used for food production. Council officials, recommending approval, wrote: “The proposals are as a result of improvements to solar panel technology which mean the panels are efficient in generating electricity for a longer period of time, thus meaning the development could provide electricity for 40 years rather than the previously approved 30-year period.
“It is considered that the extension of the proposed operational period of the development from 30 to 40 years would provide extended contributions from the development towards increased renewable low carbon energy production.
“The application seeks not only to extend the operational lifetime of the solar farm but also to extend the landscape management proposals to ensure that the benefits to the site in terms of landscape and habitat management are secured for the extended operational lifetime.
“It is considered that at the end of the approved 30-year period the landscaping will also have matured to the degree where, in the context of the solar farm, the landscape enhancements will have the most positive impact on screening the development and in providing mature habitats during the extended 10-year period.”