Latest Industry News: Edition 41

Skeeby Solar Farm Set to Provide Clean Energy for 20,000 

The largest solar farm in Yorkshire, the Skeeby facility, is now fully operational, representing an investment of £39.4 million.

Spanning 166 acres near Richmond, the farm utilises over 93,000 bifacial solar panels. These advanced panels, equipped with photovoltaic cells on both sides, are designed to capture sunlight from both the front and back, maximising energy production.

With a generation capacity of 55MW, Skeeby Solar Farm is expected to produce enough renewable energy to power approximately 20,000 homes. Although planning permission was granted two years ago, the project faced significant local opposition, including 117 formal objections and a petition signed by 650 people, reflecting some community concerns.

The benefits of the solar farm, however, include providing clean energy and lowering emissions, bringing the area closer to net zero goals. Under a three-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), the farm will deliver 49GWh of renewable energy annually to OVO, one of the UK's major energy providers, supporting OVO's ambition to achieve a zero-carbon footprint by 2035. 

RenewableUK Backs Changes to Contracts for Difference Auction Scheme

Renewable UK, the trade association representing wind, wave and tidal power industries within the UK, has welcomed the recent government reforms to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction scheme.

This scheme is the government’s primary mechanism for supporting new low carbon power infrastructure and is designed to incentivise investments in renewable energy projects in the UK at the lowest possible cost to the consumer.

Announced by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, these amendments will be in effect from Allocation Round 7 next year and are designed to secure more investment in clean energy.

The reforms, which include the introduction of repowered onshore wind projects in upcoming auctions, aim to advance the UK’s renewable energy capacity, benefiting both energy security and consumer costs. RenewableUK views these changes as critical to accelerating the UK’s path toward achieving its net zero targets.

SSEN Transmission Invests £20bn in New Homes and Clean Energy

More than 1,000 new homes are expected to be constructed across northern Scotland as part of a £20bn investment in grid infrastructure necessary for the UK to reach its green energy goals.

SSEN Transmission (Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission), a subsidiary of the electricity firm SSE, has reached an agreement with local councils and housing associations in the Highlands to fund these new builds and refurbish existing, vacant properties.

Although the project has faced criticism from people who argue it could negatively impact the landscape and aesthetics, supporters highlight that it as an essential step towards the UK’s net zero carbon emissions target by 2050.

This initiative is seen as an innovative community benefit plan, aligning housing needs with the infrastructure upgrades required for a low-carbon future.

GBE Set to Invest £8.3bn in Green Energy

According to Jürgen Maier, the newly appointed chair of Great British Energy (GBE), the organisation has the potential to rise as a leading power generator in the UK.

Maier envisions GBE owning and operating its own wind farms, tidal energy, and carbon capture projects in the coming years. Government officials also see GBE as a potential operator across offshore wind, tidal power, carbon capture, and hydrogen sectors. 

GBE plans to invest £8.3bn over the next five years, with a focus on offshore wind, hydrogen power, carbon capture, and nuclear energy projects. The company aims to build its capacity and partnerships, moving toward a co-investment model that will establish it as a key player in the UK’s green energy landscape.

Bristol Port Company’s £1.4bn Floating Wind Farm Initiative

The Bristol Port Company, the UK’s most centrally located deep-water port, has recently disclosed plans to develop a major new terminal at Avonmouth Dock, to facilitate the construction of three large-scale wind farms located off the coasts of South-West England and South Wales.

Floating wind farms are a form of renewable technology designed to capture wind energy at offshore locations where conditions are more favourable. With higher, steadier, and less obstructed wind speeds than traditional fixed-bottom wind farms, they achieve significantly greater efficiency.

The port authority in Bristol will be installing 300m-tall structures, anchored on floating platforms, to produce electricity for four million homes.

The initial three wind farms are anticipated to generate 4.5GW of renewable energy and this project is set to boost the UK’s offshore wind power to help meet new zero targets and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers of electricity.

In addition, this project is set to create 5,300 onshore jobs initially and will potentially reach 40,000 by 2040. This development is projected to add £1.4bn to the national economy.

Over 260 turbines will span the three sites, interconnected by approximately 500 miles of cables to integrate into the national grid.

Mid Sussex District Council Grants Approval of New Battery Storage Site

Mid Sussex District Council has approved a substantial new battery storage facility in West Sussex, despite various concerns raised by the community over its proximity to residential areas and potential conflicts with the planned Rampion 2 offshore wind farm cable route.

Developed by One Planet Developments, this 27-acre site set to be situated on land at Coombe Farm and is designed to store up to 350MW of power. The system will capture surplus energy generated during peak renewable output and release it when demand rises, enhancing the stability of the grid.

Although the local council received dozens of letters of objection, the West Sussex Fire & Rescue team thoroughly reviewed the plans and did not identify any issues. 

The facility’s support for renewable energy and contribution to grid stability are expected to outweigh the potential negative implications, resulting in West Sussex significantly reducing carbon emissions and becoming more ecological. 

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