Digital public consultation on plans for Stargoose solar energy farm
Solarcentury has announced they will be launching a digital public consultation in the New Year on plans for a new solar energy farm, nearly Childerley in South Cambridgeshire.
The consultation will be launched in January, when an information leaflet will be sent to local residents including details of a dedicated project website. The website will contain details of the plans for Stargoose solar energy farm, including information about how solar farms and energy storage work, further details about the design and layout of the site and how the plans can support local wildlife.
The website will also include a dedicated feedback section to ensure the local community can have their say in the plans before they are finalised.
Gareth Hawkins, UK Business Development Manager for Solarcentury, commented:
“We had intended to share our plans with the local community in person but unfortunately this isn’t possible due to current government guidelines to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
We are therefore carrying out a digital public consultation to make sure everyone, including local residents and our staff, remain as safe as possible.
We look forward to engaging with the local community and stakeholders in the New Year, ahead of preparing a planning application to South Cambridgeshire District Council.”
The proposals
The plans include a solar farm and an energy storage facility located on land that is currently farmed on the Childerley Estate. The solar generation will have a maximum output capacity of 60GWh, which could power up to 18,000 homes every year. The energy storage component is a series of batteries that will store energy from renewable energy generation when there is too much energy in the UK’s electricity infrastructure. At times of high demand, this energy can then be fed back into the grid.
We are proposing a combined generation and storage system because decarbonisation of the UK’s energy supply and the replacement of fossil fuel generation will require more sophisticated energy systems that store energy for use whenever it is needed – day or night.
The land proposed for the project is two fields totalling 65 hectares of which around one-third will be dedicated for habitat, biodiversity and landscape improvements.
Notes to editors
In November 2020 Solarcentury joined forces with Statkraft – read the press release here www.solarcentury.com/statkraft-acquires-solarcentury
About Solarcentury: Established in 1998, Solarcentury is a leading global solar power company that develops, constructs, owns and operates utility-scale solar and smart technology. Solarcentury is known internationally for developing and building some of the largest utility-scale solar projects in the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, Kenya and Mexico, including pioneering projects such as the world’s first solar bridge at Blackfriars Station in Central London.
Solarcentury’s mission is to make a meaningful difference in the global fight against climate chaos by making solar power the dominant energy source worldwide. During Solarcentury’s 22-year history the business has helped solar power become mainstream, and our projects have generated 6 billion kWh of clean electricity, saving over 1.7 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
About Statkraft: Statkraft is a leading company in hydropower internationally and Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy. The Group produces hydropower, wind power, solar power, gas-fired power and supplies district heating. Statkraft is a global company in energy market operations. Statkraft has 4,000 employees in 17 countries. www.statkraft.com
Solarcentury’s press office is available at PR@solarcentury.com.
