Developer prepares 50MW solar farm near Luton Airport

• Wandon End project spans 106 hectares as well as its planning application must be determined in early 2023

Renewables developer Evolution Power has actually submitted a planning application to establish a 50MW solar and energy storage space project near Luton Airport.

The Wandon End Solar project will have a maximum export capacity of 49.9 MW of renewable electricity.

The 106-hectare website is roughly 1 kilometres north of the eastern end of the runway at Luton Airport.

As the application site makes up land across 2 neighborhood planning authority locations the complete planning application for the development has been submitted to North Herts District Council and Luton Borough Council.

When confirmed the application will be placed in the planning area on the Council's website and also must be determined by the Council's Planning Committee in very early 2023.

Around 60 hectares will be utilized for solar facilities, while around 42 hectares will be marked for areas to enhance neighborhood biodiversity or assigned for leisure usage, with the remaining 4 hectares pertaining to the power line connection route.

Getting rid of the land from extensive farming, combined with a range of ecological enhancements such as new hedgerows, new trees, wildflower meadows and also bird and bat boxes, will certainly result in a biodiversity internet gain that is over 15 times the legal requirement, Evolution Power specified.

The project will certainly generate renewable energy through solar panels which will be linked into the national grid via a neighboring substation in Luton, while the power storage space center will have the ability to provide power at times of top power demand and also make sure the solar energy created supplies a steady and reputable enhancement to the UK power supply.

Conor McNally, Director of Evolution Power, said: "We held a public assessment throughout the summer, consisting of 2 local community occasions. As a result of this examination considerable modifications were made to the layout, specifically to get rid of areas close to Mill Way to decrease the visual influence.

" In addition to a ₤ 15,000 per annum inflation connected community benefit fund for the 40 years of the project we will also provide to mount rooftop solar to properties that are identified as being straight influenced by the development at zero price."

The development represents 0.7% of the designated Green Belt in North Herts however will provide adequate renewable energy to offset the use of around 28% of North Herts households, with ideal areas continuing to be available for the grazing of sheep.

McNally added: "This place was chosen as one of few locations of North Herts where grid capacity is available close by, whilst likewise giving the possibility to provide affordable renewable energy directly to neighborhood large employers, consisting of Luton Airport and Vauxhall Luton, which will provide added economic benefits and also help secure recurring employment."