East coast solar farm plans submitted

A new solar farm capable of powering more than 28,000 homes could be developed on the East Coast if newly submitted plans get the green light.Aura Power Development has submitted a planning application to North East Lincolnshire Council for a 331-acre site to the west of Grimsby.Approval is sought for a solar farm with an export capacity of 49.9 megawatts (MW).The plans include the installation of ground mounted solar panels together with access tracks, inverters, transformers, storage units, substation compound, underground cables and conduits, temporary construction compound, perimeter fencing and a planting scheme.It has been estimated that the Grimsby Solar Farm would generate about 94,300MWh (net) of electricity per year, enough to meet the annual average electricity needs of about 28,300 average North East Lincolnshire homes.It would also support a reduction in carbon emissions associated with energy generation of 21,800 tonnes per annum.Planning permission is sought for a period of 35 years, following which the solar farm would be decommissioned.A planning statement submitted as part of the application said the proposed scheme would generate employment opportunities during the construction phase, as well as providing “increased security and reliability of electricity supply” and “significant biodiversity and enhancements to landscape character”.