The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Energy firm lodges plans for solar park on Perthshire farm
abernethy: Site would generate enough power for up to 3,000 homes
The company behind Scotland’s biggest solar farm is eyeing up a new site in rural Perthshire.
Elgin Energy recently launched its sun-power park at the Errol Estate, generating enough power for more than 3,500 homes.
Now the firm has unveiled plans for a second multi-million-pound development near Abernethy.
If approved, around 40,000 panels will be installed across 55 acres of sheep-grazing land near Cordon Farm, on the banks of the River Earn.
The 10MW array would be slightly smaller than the Errol plant, generating power for around 3,000 properties.
UK Government subsidy cuts over the last 10 years have made the solar sector less financially viable, and prompted several projects to be cancelled.
But developers say the projects are proof that solar parks can work well in Scotland and will make a “significant” contribution to reversing climate change.
In papers submitted to Perth and Kinross Council, a spokesman for agents Savils said: “The site will have a capacity of approximately 10MW and has the potential to offset approximately 220,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the 30-year period of the development’s operation.
“This is the equivalent to the average annual UK electricity consumption for approximately 3,000 houses.”
The land will remain in agricultural use, with sheep let to graze among the panels.
If approved, the park would only take between eight and 12 weeks to put together. During the work, there would be around 240 vehicle movements to and from the site.
After construction, maintenance teams would visit the site every two to three months.
The park will be surrounded by new fencing and protected by CCTV.
Elgin Energy’s application for planning consent is being considered by council officers and a ruling is expected in the coming months.