Leicestershire Solar Farm Approval Heralds Renewable Energy for 5,500 Homes
Renewable Connections is celebrating the approval of Old Hall Solar Farm near Ragdale, Leicestershire.
The 22.5MW Solar Farm, was approved by Melton Borough Council and Charnwood Borough Council under delegated powers on the 13th September 2024. The project has been developed in partnership with European Energy (EE) and once operational will have a lifespan of up to forty years.
Old Hall Solar Farm will make a meaningful contribution to Leicestershire’s energy needs by delivering green energy to up to 5,500 homes annually. Annually the project, could save 2,873 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted.
Philip Hale, Chief Operating Officer at Renewable Connections said: “We are delighted consent has been granted for Old Hall Solar Farm. Solar is one of the cleanest, lowest cost forms of energy available that can be quickly deployed, and this project will power up to 5500 homes. Throughout the project development we engaged with local people and the feedback received helped shape the final design of the solar farm, which includes proposals to greatly enhance the biodiversity of the area, creating new habitats, and offering food and shelter to wildlife.”
The scheme will cover 44.8 hectares of land and construction of the solar farm will involve the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels, which convert sunlight directly into renewable electricity.
For more information go to: www.oldhallfarmsolar.co.uk
News artilce on Solar Power Portal
Top September Article!
Global renewable energy capacity could triple by 2030 but requires significant global efforts to overcome challenges in infrastructure and policies, says a new report by the International Energy Agency. The reports suggests that favourable economics, strong polices and sufficient manufacturing capacity will make this goal achievable.
One the major stressors that permit the tripling of renewable energy is the capacity electricity grids. Countries will need to upgrade and expand the grid and boost energy storage capacity in order to reach the ambitious goal. The report specifically calls for 1,500 gigawatts of energy storage to be developed by 2030.
Faith Birol, IEA Executive Director said: “Further international cooperation is vital to deliver fit-for-purpose grids, sufficient energy storage and faster electrification, which are integral to move clean energy transitions quickly and securely.”
Link to the Article by Energy Live News.
Solar & Storage Live 2024!
The PowerGreen team were out in force at the UK’s largest solar event, Solar & Storage Live at the NEC Birmingham. We had the pleasure of joining UK Greentech, who we’re collaborating with to offer lucrative commercial solar installer partnerships opportunities, at their stand to engage with clients and colleagues in the industry.
Along with the fantastic opportunity to meet new potential clients our team we able to attend some informative speeches from key industry persons. One of those being from SEUK Chief Executive, Chris Hewitt who confirmed that commercial, industrial and utility scale solar will play a key role in the UK’s Net Zero energy transition and future industrial strategy.
PowerGreen Partnership Page
Meet the Driving Force Behind PowerGreen
Meet Jonathan Plumb, the Commercial Director at Renewable Connections and the driving force behind the PowerGreen team! Passionate about making renewable energy affordable and accessible, Jonathan is leading the charge in transforming how businesses power their operations sustainably.
With a diverse background in the renewable energy sector, Jonathan has delivered everything from large-scale solar installations at then Lightsource Renewable Energy to cutting-edge commercial solar solutions at PowerGreen. His expertise and vision are helping businesses transition to greener, more cost-effective energy alternatives.
Connect with Jonathan Plumb on LinkedIn and follow Renewable Connections and PowerGreen to stay up to date on the latest news and innovations in renewable energy.
Events, Expos and more
September has been a busy month for the PowerGreen team when it comes to attending expos and events. Sophie Browning and John Conway have been out all over the county attending fantastic events, spreading the word of the flexible, sustainable solar and energy solutions that PowerGreen can create for your business.
Sophie attended the UK Metals Expo at the NEC, Birmingham, London Packaging Week at the ExCel, London and the Sustainability Live Conference at the Business Design Centre London. John attended Space Comm Glasgow at the SEC, Glasgow. Events like these provide great opportunities to engage with businesses to discuss how PowerGreen can help business meet there sustainability goals.
Sophie shares her thoughts on the UK Metals Expo:
It was great attending the Metals Exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham. The highlight of the show was the panel discussion on: ‘How can the UK metal industry decarbonise and achieve Net Zero?’
The Speakers spoke about the significant challenges the UK’s steel and aluminium industries face in reaching net-zero emissions, largely due to the inherent energy-intensive processes involved in metal production. There were 3 solutions that rose to the top of the discussion:
1)Switch to renewable energy: Transitioning to renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, for electricity needs. This would lower emissions during the production process.
2) Hydrogen-based technologies: Developing hydrogen as a clean energy source for processes like direct reduced iron (DRI) in steelmaking, which can replace coal-based methods.
3) Electrification: Expanding the use of electric arc furnaces (EAFs) for steel recycling, which is less carbon-intensive than primary steelmaking.
It was interesting to hear industry leaders advocate for renewables, and more importantly heavy private and government investment into grid policy and infrastructure. The grid was the central theme that was brought up to highlight the problems faced when trying to reach the solution of electrification.
Is your company compliant?
Sustainable Energy First, an energy and sustainability consultancy, have fantastic resources and information available for companies, including free helpful guides about the various compliance initiatives that qualifying businesses need to consider. Free Energy and Compliance Guides | Sustainable Energy First (sefirst.com)
As many readers will already be aware, solar can have a direct benefit to commercial organisations, helping them meet low carbon and energy targets:
ESOS – solar provides a clear route to energy saving
EPCs -Commercial buildings must comply with Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards – MEES
UK ETS – solar power could provides a power source before other carbon emitting fuels to ETS costs
CBAM – many companies will be required to cut their carbon emissions for the 2027 deadline
Got to www.sefirst.com to find out more.
How PowerGreen are helping businesses
The PowerGreen team are helping commercial and industrial businesses across the UK to achieve their sustainability targets. By creating flexible, bespoke solar solutions we can support companies to meet their energy and ESG objectives, whilst reducing their long-term power costs.
Solar is a mature and reliable technology, assisting in accelerating the clean energy transition to help with the immediate climate and energy crisis. We are delighted to be working with many sustainability, commercial, financial and operations Directors across a range of business sectors, designing and delivering ground or rooftop solar projects to meet their needs.
Please contact us at powergreen@renewableconnections.co.uk to find out what we can do for your business.