Solar farm plans lodged for Nissan factory site

Plans have been lodged for a new solar farm at automotive giant Nissan’s manufacturing facility in Sunderland.Engenera Renewables Group has submitted an application to Sunderland City Council for development on a 45.5-acre site at Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK).The site comprises an unmanaged scrub area between and under the existing Nissan Wind Turbine Farm.Planning permission is sought for the installation of a total of 37,440 solar photovoltaic (solar PV) panels, as well as transformer stations, sub stations cabling and cable trenches and a weather station.The proposed solar PV installation of 20 megawatts (MW) is equivalent to the energy needs of about 6,247 UK homes or 14,935 EV cars per year.The installation would result in a reduction in carbon emissions associated with energy generation equating to about 4,587 tonnes.Planning permission is sought for a temporary period of 40 years, after which the facility would be decommissioned and the site restored to its current condition.Earlier this month (October 2021), Envision AESC secured planning permission for a £450m battery manufacturing plant at the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP).The factory will form part of a £1bn partnership with Nissan UK to create an electric vehicle hub supporting next generation EV production and accelerating the transition to net zero carbon mobility.