In an astonishing about-turn, the Labour Leader of West Suffolk Council's Labour & Independent "Progressive Alliance", that runs the council, today said they no longer oppose the Sunnica scheme.
I think they are reasonably likely to proceed, I’m afraid. Looking at the TEC Register, BNRG Langmead only have a single project - this one. That being said there are other BNRGs on there. The common factor being a Nicolas Holman who is associated with all three of their schemes (it actually takes some searching as he’s registered with Companies House as a Director as both Nicolas Holman and Nicolas Keith Holman and the records aren’t linked). Cambridge Power also have three projects, I think, all of which are storage schemes. From what I anecdotally gather, the Friston solar farm may very well be one of the first agri-voltaic schemes we see in this country. I’ll write about these more in the coming weeks. On the one hand they’re positive - land is kept in agricultural production whilst simultaneously generating energy. However, to enable this, the panels will often sit higher or vertically (thus making the visual impact greater) and as the land is in dual use the panels aren’t so close together, meaning typically a slightly larger scheme.
I think I can probably guess the answer, but with ground mounted solar favouring mainly flat, open countryside, which is almost universally used for agriculture, how many areas like this have Labour councils?
My local solar proposal on Ynys Môn/Anglesey will consume 3,000 acres of farm land (mainly used for sheep, beef and dairy), of which 2,000 acres will be the actual solar park and 1,000 acres of screening and biodiversity mitigation. Even if all the 2,000 acres remains grazed by sheep at the same stocking density, we still have a net loss of 1,000 acres of “employment land”
The developer says there will be some local employment during the 18-24 month build, but nothing for the next 60 years
The council is Plaid Cymru who are unlikely to get much sympathy from the SoS
Hi Richard
We have searched the TEC Register and can see two new connections have been made in Friston.
1) Limetree Energy Park, BNRG Langmead Ltd, Friston 400kv substation, Energy Storage System;PV Array (Photo Voltaic/solar)
2) Red House Farm, Cambridge Power Limited, Friston 400kv substation, Energy Storage (not specified, most likely battery BESS)
This is obviously very concerning!
In your opinion how likely will these projects proceed further ?
Gordon
I think they are reasonably likely to proceed, I’m afraid. Looking at the TEC Register, BNRG Langmead only have a single project - this one. That being said there are other BNRGs on there. The common factor being a Nicolas Holman who is associated with all three of their schemes (it actually takes some searching as he’s registered with Companies House as a Director as both Nicolas Holman and Nicolas Keith Holman and the records aren’t linked). Cambridge Power also have three projects, I think, all of which are storage schemes. From what I anecdotally gather, the Friston solar farm may very well be one of the first agri-voltaic schemes we see in this country. I’ll write about these more in the coming weeks. On the one hand they’re positive - land is kept in agricultural production whilst simultaneously generating energy. However, to enable this, the panels will often sit higher or vertically (thus making the visual impact greater) and as the land is in dual use the panels aren’t so close together, meaning typically a slightly larger scheme.
Thank you Richard for the insight.
I think I can probably guess the answer, but with ground mounted solar favouring mainly flat, open countryside, which is almost universally used for agriculture, how many areas like this have Labour councils?
My local solar proposal on Ynys Môn/Anglesey will consume 3,000 acres of farm land (mainly used for sheep, beef and dairy), of which 2,000 acres will be the actual solar park and 1,000 acres of screening and biodiversity mitigation. Even if all the 2,000 acres remains grazed by sheep at the same stocking density, we still have a net loss of 1,000 acres of “employment land”
The developer says there will be some local employment during the 18-24 month build, but nothing for the next 60 years
The council is Plaid Cymru who are unlikely to get much sympathy from the SoS