Orsted and PS Renewables have unveiled updated proposals for a significant solar project in central England, signaling a pivotal step towards enhancing renewable energy infrastructure in the region.
The collaborative venture, known as One Earth Solar Farm, encompasses a 740MW solar installation alongside associated battery storage and infrastructure, predominantly situated in Nottinghamshire. The project is poised to integrate seamlessly into the National Grid via the High Marnham substation.
While still in its nascent stage of development, the project has already undergone a preliminary round of consultation in Autumn 2023, with stakeholders providing valuable feedback on the initial proposals. Building upon this input, alongside ongoing environmental and technical assessments, the developers have refined their plans, which are now subject to a second round of statutory consultation from May 29 to July 9, 2024.
Matt Hazell, co-owner of PS Renewables, expressed enthusiasm for the project's progression, stating, “We considered the feedback we received carefully and have made a number of significant changes to the project, which we will present during this second consultation.”
Echoing the sentiment of community engagement, Randall Linfoot of Orsted emphasized the collaborative approach adopted by the developers, affirming, “We want to work with local residents, community groups, and elected officials to ensure that the project is developed in a way that is sensitive to the community and environment.”
The project's significance is underscored by its alignment with the UK's ambitious energy targets, as outlined in the newly adopted National Policy Statement for Energy. Designating large-scale solar projects like One Earth as ‘critical national priorities' reflects a concerted effort to accelerate solar development and advance the goal of decarbonizing the power sector by 2035, in line with the nation's commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Given its substantial energy output exceeding 50MW, the One Earth Solar Farm qualifies as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), necessitating a Development Consent Order (DCO) from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
