UK Energy Secretary approves 600-MW solar project

A solar project in the UK of up to 600 MW capacity, said to be the country’s largest so far, was on Thursday granted development consent by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband.

The Cottam Solar Project, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, is being developed by Island Green Power. To comprise several electricity generating stations and storage facilities, the solar park will use the connection formerly used by the demolished Cottam coal-fired power station.

According to Stephen Wilding, director of business development at Solar Energy UK, the announcement is “another welcome confirmation of the new government’s support for the solar sector, in anticipation of the forthcoming Solar Roadmap, which will set the country on the path to reaching 50 GW of solar capacity by 2030.”

The approval follows an application submission to the Planning Inspectorate in January 2023 and is in accordance with the recommendation of the Planning Inspectorate.

Solar Energy UK said that a total of seven solar farms count as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP), with capacity exceeding 50 MW, have now secured consent, including three approved shortly after the general election.

Island Green Power’s head of projects UK Eve Browning added: “We will now begin the next phase of development and look forward to delivering the full opportunities of the project. This includes making significant benefits to the local community and environment by enhancing the biodiversity and wildlife across the site and introducing a new route for local walkers.”

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