(BBC) According to the Planning Inspectorate, there are developed plans for 10 large solar farms across the East of England, which about 24,000 acres of land and could generate a combined 4.3 GW of electricity – more than the new Sizewell C nuclear power station in Suffolk, which will generate 3.2 GW.
The use of farmland for solar farms is a complex issue with both potential benefits and drawbacks. Arguments in favor often center on the transition to renewable energy, diversification of farm income, and potential for soil health improvement an general biodiversity net gain. Opponents raise concerns about land use, food security, and effective utility of solar versus other energy systems.
What are the major considerations:
Suffolk County Council: Conservatives missed opportunity on controlling energy projects, say Suffolk opposition Cllr Andrew Stringer, Leader of the Green, Liberal Democrat and Independent group, said: “We were in agreement with the Conservatives’ motion for the most part – while we are in favour of renewable energy, we aren’t in favour of every development and agree that consultation with communities need to be robust.
Links and maps
https://knowledge.energyinst.org/new-energy-world
Four sites in early pipeline: Easton, Hacheston, Letheringham and Loudham.
Three within the River Deben catchment!
Heckington Fen, Lincolnshire – Ecotricity, 1,000MW park for 200,000 homes
| Where | Area | Mw | Who | Impact |
| Eye | 1,500 acres NSIP | 250mW | Ecopower suffolk | Yaxley, Brome, Gislingham, Mellis, Eye and Occold. SCC oppose |
| Euston Estate | 350 acres (30,000 homes) | |||
| Long stratton / Diss/ Gissing | 900 mW | RPC and Elmya | ||
| Cheddiston Solar Park | 56 hectars | 27mW 1,300 homes | Sky UK Development Ltd (Octopus Energy Generation) partnership with Gridsource Limited | |
| Wissett | 103 acres | 27 MW / 10,000 homes | Pathfinder Clean Energy (PACE) + Farmer Hadingham | concerns including traffic, potential fire risk, and the impact on surrounding listed buildings. |
| Ancona Solar Farm, Hacheston | 20 MW of electricity (5,000 average UK homes) | Grupotec Ancona, Marche, Italy. https://www.gnl-strategic.co.uk/ | Connect 250m from the site to the local electricity network. There is no battery storage proposed on site. | |
Cheddiston
129 acre solar farm effecting of residents of Wissett, Rumburgh and Spexhall,
Will engulf 12 listed properties . It will mean 30 or so massive lithium battery storage containers with chain link fence circling the entire acreage, 90 decibels of noise from the cooling fans and all this with not a drop of water nearby to put out a lithium battery fire in the event of one. The lithium battery fire at the Tesla factory in Australia burnt for 5 days before it could be extinguished.
As soon as PACE got consent for 129 acres they immediately put in an application for a further 100.
Now on the Chediston side of Wissett there’s a new application in for a further 137 acres next to an existing 75 acre site of solar panels so our tiny village will lose approx 425 acres of prime arable land and we will lose forever the beauty and tranquility of what makes this part of Suffolk so special.
ENERGY persepective
Trump and Nuclear Executive Order – promoting Nuclear for AI, defeating ‘over regulation’