Solar farm gets approval
Array will be next to park and ride
Town planners have cleared a land owning trust’s bid to create a solar farm on the outskirts of Perth as part of its wider plans to build a low carbon transport hub in the same location.
A planning statement accompanying the John Dewar Lamberkin Trust’s application says the solar array will be built next to Broxden Park and Ride to supply extra electric car charging points as well as a hydrogen refuelling station and truck park planned right next door.
A separate application for the hydrogen refuelling station is still being considered by Perth and Kinross Council but its planning team passed the solar farm application last week although they stated in their report of handling the exact layout and detail of the panels have still to be decided.
Papers filed with planners say the trust is supporting the proposed Broxden Low Carbon Transport Hub “as an opportunity for PKC to become a leading authority ... in delivering low carbon adaption infrastructure to support the transition and promotion of economic opportunities through research, investment and job creation in this sector”.
And in a statement attached to the trust’s “in principle” application for the solar farm its agents Ristol Consulting said: “The site is ... wellsuited for a solar array by virtue of its south facing orientation and being screened from adjoining residential neighbourhoods.
“Adjoining the Broxden park and ride facility, this site is ideally placed to generate power through a renewable source to supply the proposed battery control unit for the EV (electric vehicle) charging points and the proposed hydrogen refuelling demonstration facility.
“The solar arrays offer on-site generation of energy to support the EV charging infrastructure and the production of hydrogen and provide a means to meet much of the energy requirements of the site in a sustainable way and offer all year round potential for generating renewable energy at the site.
“The array will initially comprise two rows of 60m x 3m (approx. 50kW). Further rows would follow linked to funding and site performance.”
In a further planning statement accompanying the trust’s separate application for the hydrogen refuelling station Ristol Consulting said: “Fleet managers in the area have expressed interest in the site and of a hydrogen refuelling provision.
“This shows a site with increasing demand for low carbon transport services and potential for innovation and development in low carbon transport facilities.
“The site would provide PKC with the opportunity to build on its known EV charging provision and utilise its local, regional and national accessibility.
“By bringing hydrogen refuelling facilities to Perth, the council can lower the barriers for uptake of hydrogen vehicles as well as provide a vital hydrogen refuelling link on the Scottish trunk road network.”