Planning consent granted for 600 MW photo voltaic venture, largest to this point within the UK – pv journal International

A 600 MW photo voltaic and vitality storage venture has been granted planning consent within the United Kingdom, the biggest PV plant in capability to this point. This signifies that venture developer Island Green Power can now proceed with the development of the utility-scale website.

The Cottam Solar Project was granted a Development Consent Order (DCO) final Sept. 5, 2024, after session with native stakeholders and an extended examination course of. In England, tasks with a capability of greater than 50 MW should be signed off by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), after evaluation by the UK Planning Inspectorate. The Cottam Solar Project DCO is the fourth consent order issued by DESNZ Secretary of State Ed Miliband since taking workplace in July 2024. This brings the whole variety of DCOs granted to photo voltaic tasks to England to seven, with the primary awarded to the 373 MW Cleve Hill photo voltaic venture in 2020.

Miliband’s choice to grant the DCO comes regardless of some native opposition to the plant, which straddles the border in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. In the summer time, the secretary of state requested for clarification on points starting from land possession rights to ecological issues, such because the developer’s commitments to biodiversity and habitat administration.

Once commissioned, the 600 MW plant will use a grid connection on the close by Cottam 400 kV substation. The grid infrastructure beforehand served the two GW Cottam coal-fired energy station owned by EDF, which was commissioned in September 2019.

Cottam Solar is considered one of two main photo voltaic tasks within the space being developed by Island Green Power. The 480 MW West Burton Solar venture can also be below DCO approval. The Planning Inspectorate has accomplished an evaluation of the location, and the Secretary of State has till November 8, 2024 to decide.

The flurry of DCOs issued by DESNZ in 2024 is accompanied by a UK authorities session on potential adjustments to the consent course of for bigger photo voltaic vegetation in England. Due to the useful resource intensive extraction of DCO, few tasks have been developed within the 50 MW to 150 MW vary. The authorities claims that elevating the edge for DESNZ approval to 150 MW may lead to sooner approval at a decrease value to builders, as tasks could be managed by the planning techniques of native authorities. Industry stakeholders have till Sept. 24, 2024 to answer the planning session.