Elements Green confirms plans for new solar and energy storage park near Newark-on Trent
· The proposed new solar and energy storage park could provide enough clean affordable electricity to:
o Power around 400,000 UK homes per year – equivalent to 100% of the homes in Nottinghamshire
o Annually avoid approximately 250,000 tonnes of CO2
· The project would connect into the existing National Grid substation at Staythorpe, Nottinghamshire
· Initial consultation on emerging proposals will take place in early 2024
· Interested parties are encouraged to register their interest in the project via the website
Elements Green, a leading renewables developer based in the UK, has today confirmed that it is at an early stage in developing plans for Great North Road Solar Park – a new solar and energy storage park located to the northwest of Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire.
With a potential generation capacity of around 800 megawatts (MW) AC of solar energy, the scheme has the potential to meet the power needs of circa 400,000 homes while avoiding more than 250,000 of CO2 emissions every year.
Mark Noone, Project Director for Great North Road Solar Park, said: “The UK Government has set ambitious and legally binding targets to eliminate carbon emissions by 2050. More renewable energy is needed to fast-track away from fossil fuel, and the Government's stated ambition of increasing the nation’s solar capacity fivefold to 70GW by 2035 recognises the important role large-scale solar development will play in achieving this.
“Our proposals for Great North Road Solar Park build on the Trent Valley’s long history of powering the UK. With an installed capacity of over one gigawatt (GW) DC the scheme offers an effective, clean solution that would help secure the UK’s future energy needs, contributing 1.5 per cent towards the government’s 2035 solar PV target. Stepping up the production of sustainable, home-grown electricity it would also contribute to tackling the cost-of-living crisis head-on through the reduction of household energy bills.”
Elements Green has identified multiple parcels of land extending to the north of the A617 and the west of the A1 to deliver the scheme. Work is currently underway to determine suitable areas for accommodating the principal components of the solar park which include solar photovoltaic panels (PV), an on-site energy storage facility and associated infrastructure to connect the scheme to the national grid at Staythorpe substation, as well as significant biodiversity enhancements including tree planting, wildflower meadows, and wetland areas. Findings from surveys and assessments will also consider enhancements to existing public rights of way and the creation of additional permissive walkways.
The findings from the initial work will be shared through a first stage of community consultation anticipated in early 2024. Feedback to this consultation will be used to inform and refine more detailed proposals on which a further stage of consultation will be carried out.
“We believe that local communities have an important role to play in helping to inform and influence how our proposals for Great North Road Solar Park evolve,” explains Mark. “We want to deliver this project responsibly and are committed to consulting as widely and effectively as possible, working together with residents, businesses and community organisations to improve and enhance our proposals as our plans for the project progress.
“We’re extremely keen to hear about any initiatives we could support or deliver to benefit those communities closest to the development through our community benefit scheme, known as NG+, which will be directly linked to this project,” he continues.
“NG+ would make available in the region of £1m per annum to provide grants for residential and commercial energy efficiency measures and small-scale renewable energy schemes, through to supporting community projects, apprenticeships, school and college programs, to woodland, biodiversity, and archaeology projects. This is in addition to making an estimated contribution of circa £1.5m-£3m in business rates to the Newark and Sherwood district. The project would not rely on any form of government subsidy.”
Great North Road Solar Park is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) because the amount of electricity it could generate exceeds 50MW. This requires Elements Green to submit an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Planning Inspectorate. Ultimately, the Secretary of State for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) will decide whether to grant consent.
It is anticipated that the development process through DCO submission and examination will take between two and three years. Subject to achieving consent, construction would begin around 2027.
Information about the proposed development is available on the project website www.gnrsolarpark.co.uk. The public is encouraged to register their details on the website so they can be notified directly as soon as information about the consultation becomes available.
The project community relations team can be contacted directly using any of the details below:
Email: info@gnrsolarpark.co.uk
Freephone information line: 08081 754054 (open 09:00-17:00 Monday to Friday)
Freepost: FREEPOST GNR SOLAR
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Map attached: Map showing land available for the proposed solar and energy storage park as well as infrastructure connecting it to the national grid at Staythorpe substation. More information can be found at: gnrsolarpark.co.uk
Media contact
Lucy DaVolls and Becca Walker
Counter Context
T: 0808 1754054
E: Lucy.davolls@countercontext.com / rebecca.walker@countercontext.com
Notes to editors
About the developer
Elements Green is the developer behind GNR Solar Park. Elements Green has a proven track record in solar and energy storage development. We are a team of renewable energy experts who are focused on powering a sustainable future. With an established global reach, we are at the forefront of technological change within our sector and have over seven gigawatts (GW) in the development pipeline, with projects across the UK, Italy, Germany, Australia, and the USA.
More information can be found at: www.elementsgreen.com