Island Green Power (IGP) has officially launched the public consultation for its proposed 500 MW photovoltaic (PV) project in Norfolk, England. The project, named East Pye Solar, aims to harness solar energy to support the U.K.’s transition to renewable energy.
Project Overview
- Location: The East Pye solar farm will be situated near Long Stratton in South Norfolk.
- Components: The project will include solar panels and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which will store excess energy generated during peak production times and release it to the National Grid as demand increases.
- Connection to the Grid: If approved, the energy generated will be distributed to the National Grid via a new substation and the existing 400 kV overhead line that connects Norwich Main and Bramford substations.
Importance of the Project
The East Pye Solar project is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) due to its generation capacity. This classification requires IGP to apply for a Development Consent Order (DCO), which involves a comprehensive planning process.
Public Consultation Process
As part of the DCO application, IGP will conduct several stages of public consultation to gather feedback from the community, local authorities, and other stakeholders. This feedback will be instrumental in refining the project proposals before they are submitted for examination.
- Consultation Timeline: The first stage of the consultation will run until Friday, December 6, 2024.
- Community Engagement: Samantha Jones, project development manager for East Pye Solar, emphasized the importance of community involvement, stating, “We are committed to developing our proposals with the local community… The feedback we receive will help us develop our proposals so that the final designs meet the ambition for the project and deliver benefits to the local area.”
Conclusion
The East Pye Solar project represents a significant step towards increasing renewable energy capacity in the U.K. and supports the national goal of achieving net-zero emissions. Through active community engagement and feedback, IGP aims to ensure that the project not only meets energy needs but also provides local benefits.
Learn more:
- Planning consent granted for 600 MW solar project, largest to date in the UK – pv magazine International
- Public consultations: What locals want from solar developers
