Plans submitted for large solar farm

Plans have been put forward for a new solar farm, estimated to power tens of thousands of homes and create hundreds of jobs.

Proposals for 193 acres (78 hectares) of agricultural land at High Barns Farm, either side of Coal Lane near Elwick village, have been lodged with Hartlepool Borough Council.

If approved, the application from Enviromena Project Management UK could provide power to almost 26,000 homes per year and create 375 jobs.

The development is sought for a temporary period of 40 years and would aim to provide "a reliable source of clean, renewable energy to the National Grid".

The application submitted to the council's planning department would see the construction and operation of a grid-connected solar photovoltaic farm.

It would have a capacity of 49.9MW, and a battery energy storage system with a capacity of 25MW, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A planning statement in support of the development outlines how it would save the equivalent of 14,500 tonnes of CO2 per year, compared with fossil fuel sources.

Planning documents added: "There is significant and urgent need for renewable energy projects to support the UK’s switch to a low-carbon, smart energy system.

"Solar energy is seen by the government as being central to achieving net zero and will provide a significant portion of the UKs energy needs going forward."

Proposals note that as the application is only for a temporary period of 40 years, "at the end of its productive lifetime all infrastructure will be removed and land reinstated" to its current condition.

A decision on the proposals is expected in November.

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