Macquarie’s Green Investment Group (GIG) and Enso Energy have announced they have received planning approval for the first two projects in their extensive pipeline of solar and battery projects in the UK.
The JV between the two companies has recently been granted consent for a 49.9MW site in south Gloucestershire and for another 40MW scheme in west Norfolk.
Larks Green Solar Farm on land north and west of Iron Acton substation, south Gloucestershire and Walpole Bank Solar Farm on land west and south of Walpole Substation, west Norfolk are part of the ambitious pipeline of projects currently in development by the GIG-Enso Energy partnership.
Both applications received local support and were decided by the relevant councils under delegated authority.
The programme of community consultation for Larks Green Solar Farm was conducted entirely under Covid-19 restrictions, making best use of digital communication techniques to ensure that the community were engaged in the planning process.
The joint venture anticipates a number of other projects reaching planning in 2021, as part of an initial pipeline of 1GW of capacity.
Larks Green and Walpole Bank will take advantage of the latest solar technologies.
Each project will enhance the biodiversity of each site through the provision of a range of resources for local wildlife to deliver a biodiversity net gain.
The approved projects will play an important role in helping the UK meet its commitment to end its contribution to climate change by 2050.
In total It is estimated that the two solar farms will provide the equivalent annual electrical needs of approximately 25,800 family homes.
It is anticipated that the two projects will deliver a combined CO2displacement of around 39,000 tonnes per annum, which represents an emission saving equivalent of a reduction in 12,500 cars on the road every year.
Enso Energy directors Ian Harding and Andrew King said: “We’re delighted that our first two projects Larks Green Solar Farm and Walpole Bank Solar Farm have received planning approval.
“Enso Energy has carefully selected good sites, and this is recognised by local authorities who are doing the right thing, supporting good applications in order to meet their green commitments.
“As Sir David Attenborough has warned ‘The moment of crisis has come’ in our efforts to tackle climate change, and it’s projects like Larks Green and Walpole Bank that are going to make the idea of our country being run on renewable energy, a reality.”