Development of Solar Farms and Storage Assets
The climate crisis has made clear the need for countries such as the UK to rapidly expand their renewable energy capacity as part of the transition away from fossil fuels. The UK government’s target of clean power by 2030 means a dramatic expansion in solar generation – both in solar farm developments, and on the rooftops of businesses and homes. At Green Nation, we have been using our experience developing solar infrastructure for more than a decade to play our part in this effort.
We design solar developments to blend into the countryside where they cause no disturbance and make no noise. We work with local authorities and communities to ensure that projects are sensitively designed, and provide benefits to local people and the environment.
A map of our existing solar farm projects can be seen here:
If you have land that you think has potential as a solar farm site, please contact us here.
What’s Next?
Green Nation is actively engaged in expanding our presence in renewable energy development. We have several solar projects in pipeline while we are also developing battery storage projects, both standalone and co‑located with solar farm sites.
We are developing proposals for Whitestone Solar Farm, which would be located in South Yorkshire between Rotherham and Doncaster and provide up to 750 MW to the National Grid. This is enough clean energy to power 250,000 homes, making a significant contribution to our the goal of clean power by 2030, on the journey to Net Zero.
Please visit the project website to learn more about our proposals and development process.
Working with communities
Having worked to develop and manage renewable energy projects from the early days of the sector, we understand the benefits of engaging proactively with local communities in a spirit of cooperation.
We take the need to consult local residents seriously, taking feedback on board to design projects which are sensitive additions to the local landscape. By working with local partners, we deliver real benefits to the communities we work in.
Case Study: Whitelake Community Solar Farm
Green Nation built Whitelake solar farm in 2015 on land owned by two farmers near Pylle, Somerset. It is a community solar farm that uses its profits to support Key4Life, a Somerset-based charity that helps young men who have been in prison or are at risk of going to prison find employment.
It has produced over 5,000 MWh of electricity annually since commissioning – saving the equivalent of 4,000 tons of CO₂ per year.
Sheep grazing on the fields produce milk used to make award-winning cheese by landowner Whitelake Cheeses.
Partnering with Landowners
To meet the UK Government’s goal of clean energy by 2030, many more solar energy projects will need to come forward – both as ‘ground-mounted’ solar farms, and as solar panels on the roofs of homes, businesses and public buildings.
We work with landowners to maximise the benefits related to placing solar panels on part of their land – delivering secure, index-linked income and making the best use of lower-grade land.
We identify sites, agree a long-term lease with the landowner, gain the permissions required for a solar farm, raise the finance, agree a Power Purchase Agreement for the sale of electricity, then select and oversee the work of the main contractor that builds the site. And finally, we operate the site to optimise electricity production and ensure a good return on investment.
Once planning and other permissions have been obtained, it takes three to four months to build a solar farm and connect it to the grid. The site will then operate for at least 25 years.
On several sites around the country, we have worked with farmers to use part of their land for solar generation. Far from being a threat to the operation of farms, solar development in many cases offers a vital lifeline. Agricultural activity can continue on fields during the lifespan of the solar project – for instance allowing sheep to graze beneath the panels. In addition, the guarantee of income from the project helps farms to remain viable in a challenging economic environment.
We have worked with farmer Patrick Twigger on our Monksham Solar Farm project for over ten years:
“I’ve been working with Green Nation on my farm near Frome, Somerset for the past 12 years and have only good things to say. 40 acres of my land is leased out to Green Nation as part of the Monksham Solar Farm development, which provides 10.7MW of electricity to the grid, enough to power about 3,000 homes.
“Since completing the solar farm in 2014, Green Nation have worked to make it blend in properly with the surrounding countryside – commissioning planting around the boundaries which minimises any visual impact. They planted about 300 trees. They’ve taken good care of the land – managing the maintenance and landscaping, security as well as collecting the revenue. The rent has always been paid on time in accordance with the terms of the lease.
“Siting the solar panels on my land has been a lifeline in recent years, particularly as costs have risen - between fuel, electricity, wages and insurance everything has become more expensive, so revenue from the solar farm has become an important part of my business income.
“I think it’s important to realise that rather than competing with farming, solar has the potential to help farming thrive. Once a solar farm is properly designed and well managed, it is not lost to agriculture. Sheep now graze the grass rather than a tractor cutting it for hay.
“I’m happy to recommend partnership with Green Nation to any farmers who feel the opportunity is right for them”.
Patrick Twigger, landowner, Somerset