Due to be constructed on a farm, almost 28,000solar PVpanels will be constructed over five interconnecting fields. The site near South Brent comprises of 15.4 hectares and will produce enough renewable electricity to power 2,500 homes.

In charge of the renewable energy project, TGC Renewables are an independent project developer. The company were the first developer of large scale solar projects in the UK and since their establishment in 2006 have been widely regarded as one of the most experienced and knowledgeable renewable energy developers in the country.

The solar plant, which is due to be switched on at the end of August, will receive financial support through the Government’s Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs), a subsidy scheme for large scale solar installations in excess of 5MW. As we’ve seen befall the feed-in tariff (FiT) scheme, funding for ROCs is likely to face cuts from 2015.

Keen to diversify his income, landowner Richard Buckpitt told Click Green that developing a large scale solar project on the site made financial sense and will provide the farm with a guaranteed rental income for the next 25 years.

“We had been looking to diversify the farm’s income for a while… we know TGC Renewables as a firm with a number of other local developments and are aware of its reputation and track record in secured planning approval for its projects.”

“This project is one of a number of large multi-MW schemes we have in development as we respond to the interest and demand from the farming community for renewable energy,” commented Rob Denman, Director at TGC Renewables.