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Image Credit: RES
RES has formally submitted a planning application for the 49.9MW Beane Solar Farm, a large-scale renewable energy project to be developed west of Cottered Village in Hertfordshire. Designed with a strong focus on sustainability and biodiversity, the solar farm aims to power approximately 15,000 homes while incorporating extensive ecological enhancements.
A Blueprint for Sustainable Solar Energy
The Beane Solar Farm has been meticulously designed to deliver dual-use benefits, allowing agricultural grazing alongside energy production. The project integrates wildlife corridors, native hedgerows, and wildflower meadows to foster local biodiversity. Projected habitat gains stand at 98.4%, with hedgerow units increasing by 189.9% and watercourse units increasing by 10.19%.
RES has actively incorporated stakeholder and community feedback into the final site layout. Notably, solar infrastructure has been removed from the southwest section of the site to accommodate skylark plots, ensuring conservation efforts align with clean energy production. Additionally, in response to local concerns, the company has adjusted the design to increase the distance between the solar infrastructure and nearby residential properties to the south.
With intense solar irradiation levels at the site, the Beane Solar Farm is projected to generate 49.9MW of clean, low-cost electricity, cutting reliance on fossil fuels and offsetting more than 760,000 tonnes of CO₂ over its 40-year operational lifetime. The development will also include energy storage capabilities, increasing grid flexibility, and maximizing efficiency in energy distribution.
Acknowledging concerns about construction traffic and site access, RES has proposed logistics solutions to minimize HGV traffic on rural roads, utilizing existing agricultural access points to reduce disruption.
"One of the key points raised during local consultation on this project was the need for natural screening and biodiversity,” said Jonny Wilks, Development Project Manager for RES. “We’re pleased to be able to propose a scheme that not only continues to support agricultural use but is expected to deliver significant biodiversity benefit alongside clean, low-cost energy generation. We thank those who provided feedback during our pre-application process and hope that the revisions we’ve made since showcasing our preliminary design demonstrate how we’re able to balance energy generation, agriculture, and ecology. The changes we’ve made to our construction traffic and access plan have been informed through engaging early and constructively with the local community, which shows just how vital feedback is during the development process.”
A Step Toward UK’s Net Zero Goals
Once approved, the Beane Solar Farm can be rapidly deployed, reinforcing the UK’s net zero carbon ambitions while enhancing energy security with domestically produced electricity. As one of the cheapest forms of new electricity generation, large-scale solar developments like Beane Solar Farm benefit both the environment and consumers, making clean energy more accessible and affordable.
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