UK developer Ridge Clean Energy (RCE) has received planning approval to develop the 50MW Six Oaks Renewable Energy Park in Cambridgeshire, England.
The 49.9MW array, located between the A14 and A11, approximately one mile to the south-east of the centre of Bottisham, was approved by East Cambridgeshire District Council at the end of 2023, following its Planning Committee meeting in November.
Six Oaks will combine solar generation with battery storage, making a meaningful contribution to the area’s energy needs by delivering efficient, reliable renewable electricity equivalent to the use of approximately 10,700 homes, saving around 9430 tonnes of CO2 per annum of emissions, said RCE.
The associated Six Oaks Community Benefit Fund is projected to provide £30,000 per year for the 40 year lifespan of the project, enabling local people to share further in the advantages of renewable power, the developer added.
“We are looking forward to continuing our successful partnership work with local community organisations such as Bottisham Village College, Wilbrahams’ Environmental Group and The Well-brahams,” said community partnership and assistant project manager Daniela Jenkins.
“We will continue to work closely with local parish councils to firm up the administration of the community benefit fund to support local social, educational and environmental projects for the community.”
Ridge Clean Energy co-founder and chief executive Marjorie Glasgow added: “We are delighted East Cambridgeshire District Council has granted consent for Six Oaks Renewable Energy Park.
“As a company we aim to set a new standard for clean energy projects in the UK, through effective integration of renewable energy, community involvement and environmental protection.”
The scheme will include an array of ground-mounted solar panels and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). There is existing access to the site from the public highway and no high-yield land is being removed from food production.
The project is part of RCE’s portfolio of 10 Renewable Energy Parks currently in development. These include a range of renewable energy technologies, including onshore wind, solar arrays and BESS sites.