Planning permission has been granted for a 40MW solar farm with battery capacity in Dorset in south-west England.
Pegasus Group secured the approval from Dorset Council on behalf of renewables developer Voltalia UK.
The application, at South Farm, was for the installation of a renewables-led energy scheme comprising ground-mounted photovoltaic arrays and battery storage units.
As part of its commitment to the local community, Voltalia UK has incorporated a permissive footpath within the scheme, which will join up two local public rights of way and will manage hedgerows and field margins to provide a net gain in biodiversity and wildlife habitat.
The project was “well received” by the local parish council and the application was “actively supported” by the National Farmers Union (NFU) who said that it would help deliver viable and profitable farming to the area, according to Pegasus.
Livestock will continue to graze the land around and under the solar panels.
Simon Holt from Voltalia UK said: “We are pleased to have reached this milestone for an important renewable energy generation project, with a lot of support from the local community.
“The scheme will directly contribute to reducing reliance on fossil fuel generated electricity in Dorset and the south-west in general.
“We have demonstrated that large-scale projects can be sensitively sited within the countryside and need-not have unacceptable environmental impacts. The South Farm project will not rely on customer subsidies to deliver clean electricity which makes an important step in the next generation of clean energy projects of this type.
“As we move forwards into the implementation phase this year, we will be looking for local partners in Dorset to work with us to deliver this scheme and other UK projects.”
Colin Virtue, from Pegasus Group’s Bristol office, added: “We are extremely pleased that this application to diversify has been approved, providing South Farm with a secure reliable income stream.
“Dorset Council declared a Climate Emergency in May 2019, and this project will make a valuable contribution to the generation of renewable and low carbon electricity at a local level.”