In a significant move for renewable energy expansion, the UK’s new Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, has granted development consent for the Sunnica Energy Farm, a large-scale solar project proposed by Sunnica Ltd.
The farm, which includes a battery energy storage component, aims to generate up to 500 MW of electricity across three sites in East Cambridgeshire and West Suffolk.
Alongside the Sunnica Energy Farm, Miliband also approved two other substantial solar parks in the east of England: the Gate Burton and Mallard Pass schemes.
These projects received praise from industry leaders, with Solar Energy UK’s Chief Executive Chris Hewett emphasizing that such decisive action boosts investor confidence and underscores Britain’s commitment to addressing the climate emergency.
In his decision, Miliband highlighted the project’s contribution to meeting the country’s growing need for new generation capacity, outweighing potential adverse impacts. This approval comes as part of broader policy shifts under the new UK Labour government, which has also lifted the ban on new onshore wind projects in England.
