Island Green Power (IGP) has initiated a public consultation for its early-stage plans to develop the East Pye solar farm, a 500MW photovoltaic (PV) project located near Long Stratton in South Norfolk. The proposed project would include solar panels and a battery energy storage system (BESS) to store excess energy and release it to the National Grid when demand increases.
If approved, the energy generated would be distributed to the National Grid through a new substation connected to an existing 400kV overhead line. The solar farm's capacity qualifies it as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), requiring a Development Consent Order (DCO) for construction.
The consultation, running until December 6, 2024, invites feedback from the local community, authorities, and stakeholders, which will help refine the proposals before submission. Project Development Manager Samantha Jones emphasized the importance of community engagement, stating, “We are committed to developing our proposals with the local community, and the feedback we receive will help shape the final design to meet both project goals and local needs.”