Sleaford Solar Farm

Linconshire looks set to get a massive solar farm but, as usual, the NIMBYs are out in force to get it stopped.

GS Ignis Limited, a utilities and communication company, has submitted plans to create a 63 acres solar park on Washdyke Farm in Folkingham.

The site would generate 27 MW of electricity a year, enough to power 8,700 homes a year.

This site is perfect for the generation of electric energy as it has minimal shading and is perfectly situated for connection to the National Grid, but local opposition is putting the whole project in jeopardy.

Unhelpful comments from councillors like Conservative Colin Davie, an executive member for environment and strategic planning at Lincolnshire County Council.

He has falsely stated ‘Renewable energy will play a part in the country’s energy generation strategy, but solar generation is neither reliable, appropriate or desirable.’

Taking like this is unhelpful and untrue, according to most studies, and especially one by Product Lifecycle Management company Technia, Solar generation is the most reliable of the renewable energy.

Sleford will have to overcome this sort of misinformation as well as winning the hearts and minds of the local people to get the go ahead.

It won’t be easy in the current climate, excuse the un, as rejection of solar farm planning permission is Great Britain at the highest rate in five years, with enough projects to cut £100m off annual electricity bills being turned down in the past 18 months.

The plans for the Washdyke Solar Farm are now available at the South Kesteven District Council planning portal and they are concentrating on the green aspect of the installation:

“Global climate change is widely considered as one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world today. The principal cause of climate change is a rise in the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, a major contributor being the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity.”

Statements like that are not going to change the minds of people who believe the countryside should remain ‘unharmed’ despite the need for fuel autonomy in the UK, but the fact solar farms could reduce electricity bills may start to change the debate.

The site is to be decommissioned and removed on 40 years’ time unless the planning permission is revised to include an extension –

I guess you could call those future revisions ‘Sleaford Mods’ … I’ll get my coat.