Solar farm scheme planned for former power station site

Plans for a solar farm and battery energy storage system in Burton-upon-Trent could be brought forward by energy giant E.ON.

It has requested an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Opinion from South Derbyshire District Council for its proposed development on the site of the former Drakelow Power Station.

The 82-acre site would be split into two parts – the northern parcel becoming home to a solar farm with a capacity of up to 40MWp, whilst the southern parcel having a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with a capacity of up to 240MW.

It is estimated the scheme would operate for around 40 years.

South Derbyshire District Council approved a BESS development on nearby land last July. E.ON’s agents, PWA Planning, said its proposed scheme “would be complementary” to that development.

Drakelow Power Station was closed in 2003 with the buildings at the site demolished in 2006.

Since then various energy schemes have been brought forward, including a gas-fired power station, a biomass-fired power station, and an energy-from-waste facility.

There has been a major housebuilding programme on another part of the site, with 1,500 homes being delivered in the new neighbourhood of Dracan Village.