Island Green Power has received approval from South Kesteven's planning committee to construct a 46MW solar farm and battery energy storage system near Welby, Lincolnshire. The project, which is expected to power approximately 14,500 homes, is set to feature ground-mounted solar panels and a battery storage facility to store excess electricity.
Construction work for the Welby Solar Farm is expected to begin within three years. The project was refined following feedback from local residents, and the company has pledged to work closely with South Kesteven and the community during its development.
Sam Aitchison, Project Manager for the Welby Solar Farm, expressed gratitude for the input received during the planning process, saying, “We are grateful to everyone who took part in the planning process for their comments and feedback, which we used to refine our plans. We will continue to liaise closely with South Kesteven and local residents to ensure the project is delivered in the best possible way.”
The revised site layout now covers 19 hectares, down from an initial 40 hectares, after a central field was removed to create a habitat for skylarks. The solar panels will be arranged in rows spaced 4.5 to 7.5 meters apart, with the panels rotating throughout the day to optimize efficiency. The battery storage compound and associated infrastructure, including a substation, inverter stations, CCTV, and communications equipment, will be designed to minimize its visual impact.
The solar farm is expected to operate for 40 years, generating clean energy that will be exported to the grid. Dave Elvin, Chief Development Officer at Island Green Power, welcomed the planning committee's approval, stating, “Welby will build on our strong track record of delivering projects that make a genuine difference to sustainability, supporting the UK's transition to clean, home-grown, renewable energy.
