Plans for major solar farm get green light from government

Proposals for a massive 1,277 hectare solar farm in East Yorkshire have been granted development consent by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

East Yorkshire Solar Farm is intended to a site between the villages of Gribthorpe, Spaldington, Wressle, and the town of Howden.

It is being brought forward by Boom Power, which says the facility will generate about 400 megawatts (MW) of low-carbon electricity, enough to power around 100,000 homes.

The application, designated a “Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project” was first submitted to the government’s Planning Inspectorate for consideration by East Yorkshire Solar Farm Ltd (a Boom Power company) on 21 November 2023 and accepted for examination on 19 December 2023.

A letter outlining the Planning Inspectorate’s decision explains the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband “has concluded that the public benefits associated with the proposed development outweigh the harm identified, and that development consent should therefore be granted”.

The solar farm will connect to the National Grid at the Drax substation in North Yorkshire.

Boom Power states: “The UK is a net importer of electricity. The scheme will contribute to the UK’s urgent need to transition to a sustainable, clean future by enabling energy security and self-sufficiency.

“Once the solar farm is constructed and fully commissioned, the operational phase will begin. The design life of the scheme is 40 years from the final commissioning, and is currently anticipated to be 2030 to 2070.”