Solar energy park planned for 116-hectare rural site

Plans for a renewable energy generation and storage project to the east of Sheffield are set to be revealed.

Independent renewable energy firm, Banks Renewables, is drawing up an application for a new solar energy park on a 116-hectare piece of agricultural land to the west of the Todwick Road Industrial Estate in Dinnington, three miles east of Banks’ Penny Hill wind farm.

The Common Farm solar project would have an installed capacity of up to 50MW, which would be enough to meet the annual energy requirements of up to 18,800 family homes and would displace over 11,470 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the electricity supply network each year.

A 50MW battery energy storage system linking directly into the Thurcroft electricity sub-station around three kilometres to the north of the site would also form part of the project.

At least £50,000 of the revenues generated by the Common Farm project would be made available every year as part of a package to support local good causes. This equates to more than £2m through the lifetime of the project.

Banks Renewables is expecting to submit a planning application to Rotherham Council for the new scheme in the coming months, with a view to it being determined before the end of the year.

The company is also currently developing the Barnsdale solar energy park to the south east of Leeds, which will be able to produce enough electricity to meet the annual requirements of up to 12,000 family homes.

Lewis Stokes, senior community relations manager at the business, said: “Maximising the production of renewable energy from domestic sources is a crucial part of the UK’s ongoing journey towards its Net Zero targets, especially within the current energy security climate, and the Common Farm solar scheme will further extend the contribution that we’re able to make locally towards reaching these goals.

“The project is located in an area that we know very well, and having conducted a detailed search, we identified this site as providing the best opportunity to create a solar park that links directly into the Thurcroft substation.”

Jill Askew, solar and flex project manager at Banks Renewables, added: “As more sources of renewable energy are connected to the system, more innovative ways of storing the electricity they produce will be required.

“Peaks of energy demand usually take place in the morning and early evening, but this is not necessarily when renewable energy is being generated.

“The battery energy storage system at Common Farm would help to ensure reliable, stable and balanced electricity grid operation at times of peak demand and would support the UK’s continuing drive towards its Net Zero ambitions.”

Full details of the proposed Common Farm solar energy park development can be found at www.banksgroup.co.uk/commonfarm