The Biggest Solar Farms in the UK

The solar energy industry has evolved massively over the past few years, allowing solar energy to be produced at a much lower rate than other sources of renewable energy, with a huge number of solar farms being created globally. Supporting the UK’s green energy transition, the collective pipeline of the 469 solar farms dotted across the UK has now reached 11.6GW per year.

Solar farms are large scale applications of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. They have been providing green, renewable and locally sourced energy to large numbers of people and businesses for many years since their initial creation 25 to 30 years ago. Creating and obtaining energy via solar farming is quickly becoming the preferred option for governments, businesses and interested independent investors.

According to 2020 figures, just under 500 solar farms are now in operation in the UK. In just a five-year period, the solar capacity in the UK increased from 5,488.6 MW in 2014 to an astonishing 13,258 MW in June 2019.

We have compiled an info-list on the 5 largest solar farms, also known as solar parks, currently operating in the UK. Read on to find out more!

 

1. SHOTWICK SOLAR PARK

 

In at first place is Shotwick Solar Park located in Flintshire, Wales.

– Commissioned in March 2016, Shotwick Solar Park was collaboratively developed by We-Link Energy and Compton group. 

– Producing 72.2 MW per year and spread over 250 acres, this solar farm is the largest in the UK.

– This solar farm generates and feeds private infrastructure with power. Including the UK’s largest paper mill, UPM Shotton Paper Mill. Shotwick Solar farm supplies 70% of the paper mills’s energy requirements, saving the business 22,5000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

– Helping companies like UPM Shotton Paper Mill offset around one- third of their annual electricity demand. Shotwick Solar Park is the largest private wire solar park in Europe.

 

2. LYNEHAM SOLAR FARM 

 

In at second place is MOD Lyneham Solar Farm in Bradenstoke, Wiltshire:

– Situated on a former runway, Lyneham Solar Farm is the first developed with the British Ministry of Defence (MOD).


– Commissioned in March 2015, Lyneham Solar Farm has a capacity of 69.8MW and covers 213.3 acres of land.

– With a network of over 17 kilometres of interconnecting trenches that draw power from over 160,000 solar PV panels, this solar farm can provide clean power to ten thousand homes as well as a military training college on site.

– AS RAF Lyneham does not house operational aircraft on a day-to- day basis nor is it safeguarded by the MOD, any glint and glare issues associated with solar panels is not relevant in this instance making Lyneham a suitable home for a Green energy project such as this.

 

3. OWL’S HATCH SOLAR PARK 

 

In at third place is Owl’s Hatch Solar Park located at Herne Bay, Kent:

 

– Commissioned in March 2015, this solar farm has a capacity

of 51.9MW.

– Occupying 212 acres of land south of Herne Bay, this solar farm is situated across eight fields.

– With rows of panels standing 2.4 metres tall and titled at a 22- degree angle, this solar farm is considered “dual use” as it uses the land to both generate solar energy and be available for agricultural purposes including sheep grazing.

– 14,000 homes are thought to be supplied with power thanks to Owl’s Hatch Solar Farm.

 

4. WROUGHTON AIRFIELD SOLAR PARK

  In at fourth place is Wroughton Airfield Solar Park:   – One of the largest ground mounted solar farms in the UK, this project is a joint development effort from Public Power Solutions (PPS) and the Science Museum Group who were seeking a solution that would generate an income enabling them to refurbish the aircraft hangers on the former WWII airfield. – Initially funded by private investors, Wroughton’s local authorities have also invested into this 165-acre solar farm. – Completed in March 2016 and also connected to the national grid, this solar farm has a capacity of 50MW – enough to power 12,000 homes on solar energy!  

5. WEST RAYNHAM SOLAR FARM 

  In at fifth place is West Raynham Solar Farm:   – Commissioned in March 2015, this solar farm of nearly 200,000 solar panels is spread over 225 acres of land.  – With a capacity of 49.8MW, this solar farm situated on a disuse airfield near Fakenham and is capable of serving up to 11,000 houses with solar power. – Large-scale solar energy investors Bluefield Solar purchased the land for this solar farm at a colossal £56.5m.  

Why should you switch to solar? 

  Solar energy is a fantastic option to not only reduce your electricity bills, but to also cut your carbon footprint. A typical home solar PV system could save around one tonne of carbon per year, depending on where you live in the UK. Get in touch today, to see how we can help you switch to solar!

How much does it cost to charge an electric car? How does this compare to petrol?

There are an estimated 400,000 electric cars on the road in the UK and more than 750,000 plug-in hybrids.

Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular as the price of oil remains high and people are looking for better environmental options.

The UK government will provide £ 500 million over the next five years to support the launch of a fast-charging network for electric cars, ensuring that drivers no longer drive 50 miles from the fast charging station.

An estimated 400,000 electric cars and more than 750,000 plug-in hybrids run on British roads.

In April 2022, 12,899 new electric cars were sold – an increase of 40.9 percent compared to April 2021. This gives them a market share of 10.8 percent.

As they grow in popularity, here’s what you need to know about billing costs and how they compare to gasoline.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

The price of charging your electric car depends on how and where you charge it. A fully charged household electric car costs around £ 15.10, based on a typical electric car with a 60kWh battery and a range of almost 200 miles, at an average cost of 28p / kWh.

Outside the house are the Pod Point quick chargers 23 p / kWh in Lidl and 24 p / kWh in Tesco, which is about £ 6-7 for a 30-minute charge (about 100 miles away).

The price is probably the same at gas stations.

Most modern networks can use a free mobile download application to find payment points.

How does it compare to petrol?

At present, a litre of unleaded petrol costs around £1.73. Super unleaded costs around £1.85, and diesel is £1.83.

These prices are all expected to continue rising.

That means for a small car like a Ford Fiesta, 100 miles of travel costs around £14 – double the price of travelling the same distance in an electric vehicle.

For a larger car like a Land Rover the cost is significantly higher – in excess of £30 for 100 miles of travel.

To find out more about EV charging installations contact us. 

Will it be mandatory for ALL building to have solar panels by 2029?

The European Union wants to facilitate the big start-up of solar energy and at the same time build a solar production industry in Europe. The plan is part of a strategy to end its dependence on Russian fossil fuels, especially natural gas, by 2030. The EU currently receives about 40% of its gas from Russia at a cost of more than $ 110 million a day.

By 2030, half of the EU’s energy will come from sustainable sources, which, according to the European Commission’s plan called RepowerEU, is more than double the current amount. It costs hundreds of billions of euros, but most of this money comes from savings on imported fuel. However, rapid action is needed to achieve this goal.

Under this plan, the EU has put in place a number of measures, from doubling the rate of heat pump deployment to creating areas where renewable energy sources can be used. As part of these measures, the European Commission has also introduced the Solar Roof Initiative which will make it mandatory in 2029 to install solar panels in new public and commercial buildings as well as in new residential buildings.

How will Europe transition to solar energy?

Under the REPowerEU plan, the EU aims to operate 320 GW of photovoltaic solar energy by 2025 (more than doubling compared to 2020) and almost 600 GW by 2030. By 2030, the EU will reach an average of 45 GW per year to be installed.

To achieve this, the EU relies heavily on the Solar Roof Initiative. According to some estimates, rooftop photovoltaics can supply almost 25% of the EU’s electricity consumption – more than the share of natural gas today. These devices can be deployed quickly while protecting consumers from high energy prices, the EU said. In fact, this shift could make energy cheaper than at the current level.

The plan requires the EU and national governments to limit the length of roofing permits for solar installations, including large ones, to a maximum of three months – which should happen this year. Skylights are required for new public and commercial buildings in 2027 and for residential buildings in 2029.

To this end, the EU will build support structures for roof systems, including a combination of energy storage and heat pumps, based on foreseeable payment periods of less than 10 years. The plan is expected to add 19 TWh of electricity after the first year of its implementation – and then a total of 58 TWh of electricity in 2025.

In the area of energy savings, the European Commission also wants to increase its current target of reducing energy consumption by 2030 by energy efficiency, from 9% to 13%. It also called on governments to implement policies to increase energy savings, such as reducing taxes on energy-efficient heating and insulation systems for buildings.

Find out more about Solar PV Installations

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How much do Solar Panels cost?

With rising costs of energy and improvements in solar efficiency, the ROI is getting better and better!

 

What you can expect in terms of solar panel costs will depend on the size of the system you install as well as the type.

‘Solar panel supply and installation costs will vary, but you can look to pay anywhere between £5,000 to £10,000 for a photovoltaic (PV) system and £4,000 to £5,000 for a solar thermal system,’ say the experts at Checkatrade(opens in new tab).

 

How much can you save with a solar photovoltaic installation?

When you’re deciding whether the cost of solar panels is worth it, you’ll want to factor in how much they are likely to save you. If you live in London, for example, you might save between £170 and £415 annually without the smart export guarantee (SEG) (see below), according to the Energy Saving Trust(opens in new tab) (EST).

 

What is a Solar PV Installation feed-in tariff?

The feed-in tariff closed to new applications in March 2019, but the SEG offers the opportunity to be paid for exporting energy. ‘The feed-in tariff has now been replaced by the smart export guarantee, where some electricity suppliers will pay homeowners for any low-carbon electricity they export back to the National Grid,’ says Steve Alldritt. ‘The average home can make £112 per year through the SEG.’

Therefore, when you combine the savings of generating your own electricity, and the pay for exporting back to the grid, you could make as much as £527 per year. This means it will take 10 to 15 years to earn back your initial outlay, not including any added wiring or roof upgrades.

 

Contact us today for a free quotation for your solar panel installation or visit our Solar PV Installation for more information.