Clean Energy Pipeline’s Post

Anesco Ltd has received planning permission from South Staffordshire Council for the development of a 48 MW solar farm in Coven, Staffordshire. The 143-acre site will generate enough green electricity to power around 13,000 homes and save approximately 10,000 tonnes of carbon from being produced annually. Its construction is expected to get underway in early 2025. The site will benefit from advanced biodiversity improvements designed to support local wildlife and some of the country’s most at-risk species. These improvements go beyond planning requirements and will provide an estimated biodiversity net gain of upwards of 200%. Once complete, the solar farm will be operational for 40 years, after which time the panels and infrastructure will be removed and the land returned to agricultural use. Anesco CEO, Hildagarde McCarville, commented: “We’re delighted to have secured approval to move ahead with this project. The solar farm at Coven will generate significant benefits for the environment and form part of the renewable infrastructure and security of supply that the country so vitally needs, if we are to achieve net zero and the government’s target of 70GW of solar by 2035. “South Staffordshire Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 and developed an action plan that includes encouraging renewable sources of energy supply. The project is fully aligned with those plans, while actively contributing to the UK’s energy transition and net zero target.” Anesco is a market leader in the development, build, maintenance and optimisation of grid-scale solar and energy storage projects. The company has energised more than 1.1 GW of solar and storage assets to date, with a target to safely energise a further 1.5GW by 2030. In addition, Anesco is helping reduce fuel poverty and lowering emissions by improving the energy efficiency of homes, as a managing agent for the government’s ECO scheme. Founded and headquartered in the UK, Anesco has a growing presence across Europe, including within the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium. #cleanenergy

Edify’s large-scale solar-plus-storage project in Victoria, Australia, has received government funding to support the state’s clean energy ambitions. The project will boost grid reliability and contribute to renewable energy goals, showcasing a commitment to sustainable energy transitions. This initiative aligns with Australia's broader clean energy strategy, promoting innovation in solar and storage technologies. The funding is expected to create jobs and strengthen the country's path toward a low-carbon future.

German company Photovolt Development Partners has submitted a Development Consent Order (DCO) application for the Botley West solar farm in the UK to the Planning Inspectorate. Photovolt Development Partners aims for the £800 million project, located in Oxfordshire, to be the largest solar farm in the UK, with an installed capacity of 840 MW. If approved and built, the Botley West solar project will be capable of generating enough energy to power 330,000 homes per annum, equivalent to every home in Oxfordshire. “We are pleased formally to complete the submission of our plans for Botley West, which will make a huge contribution towards achieving Net Zero in the UK,” said Photovolt Director Mark Owen-Lloyd. “This project will help equip Britain to mitigate the impact of devastating climate change. The process will now enter a new phase, with the Planning Inspectorate adopting an evidence-based approach to their deliberations. These proposals follow extensive consultation with the local community and thorough, years-long environmental studies. This has resulted in the provision of new walking paths, increasing the distance between panels and residential areas and a commitment to a minimum 70% biodiversity net gain.” The Planning Inspectorate will now review the application using an evidence-based approach. The initial 28-day acceptance phase will assess whether the consultation process met legal requirements. The final decision will be made by the Energy and Net Zero Secretary, Ed Miliband. Given the project’s national significance, solar farms over 50 MW require ministerial approval rather than local authority consent. The proposal has undergone multiple consultation rounds, resulting in significant adjustments, including improved accessibility for walkers, reduced installation areas, and enhanced environmental measures. #cleanenergy

The UK’s Planning Inspectorate has accepted plans for the 840 MW Botley West Solar Farm in Oxfordshire, advancing one of the UK’s largest solar projects to the pre-examination phase. https://lnkd.in/e7pefQyz #solarenergy #solarstorage #UKsolar

We’re pleased to start 2025 with the planning approval for the Fox Cover solar farm in Seaham, Durham. This 8.5MWp project will generate clean energy to power over 3,100 homes annually, cut 1,700 tonnes of carbon, and deliver major biodiversity gains, including new habitats, hedgerows, and meadow grassland. The project is located near the site of the former Dawdon Colliery, symbolising a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy for the region. This milestone reflects collaboration with local communities, Durham County Council, and our dedicated team. Learn more about the project and its benefits here: https://lnkd.in/eaZikSAQ #renewableenergy #solarpower #netzero #sustainability #enviromena

As a proud advocate for renewable energy and a sustainable future, I am writing to express my full support for the Alwen Forest Wind Farm and Grid Connection project. This initiative aligns perfectly with the urgent need to decarbonize our society and transition to greener, cleaner energy solutions. I commend Sustainable Wales and Community Energy Wales for championing this project, especially their emphasis on ensuring that local communities directly benefit from these developments. The inclusion of community ownership of up to 15% of the project is a significant step forward, empowering residents to actively participate in and gain from renewable energy initiatives. By allowing local people to invest and reinvest surplus funds into community benefits, this project not only supports environmental goals but also bolsters the local economy and strengthens community resilience. Projects like the Alwen Forest Wind Farm demonstrate how renewable energy can drive sustainable development while addressing critical social and economic needs. It is essential that initiatives of this scale prioritize the involvement and prosperity of the communities they impact, and I applaud the collaborative vision of this project to achieve exactly that. I urge decision-makers to approve this application and encourage others to support this vital step toward a sustainable and inclusive energy future.

Rayleigh Solar Farm Approved: Rochford District Council Greenlights Renewable Energy Project Rayleigh Solar Farm, slated to boast an export capacity of 30 MW upon completion, has been granted planning permission following a reversal of fortunes. Initially refused by Rochford District Council’s Development Committee in June 2023, despite a recommendation for approval from Planning Officers, the project has now been greenlit. The application’s previous rejection stemmed from concerns about its impact on the Green Belt, with officials questioning whether its benefits outweighed the environmental harm. However, in a turn of events, less than a week after this decision, Rochford District Council declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency, setting ambitious net zero targets […] Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/diWTEp26 #solarenergy #alternativeenergy #solarpv #pvsolar #photovoltaic #cleanenergy #cleantech #climatechange #middleeast #africa #india #asiapacific #asia #aurapower #europe #netzero #rayleighsolarfarm #renewableenergy

The UK has approved two large-scale solar farms—Heckington Fen and West Burton—totaling nearly 900 MW of capacity. These projects, led by Ecotricity and Island Green Power, will significantly enhance the nation’s renewable energy output, contributing to net-zero goals and reducing carbon emissions. West Burton, spanning Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, will connect to the grid via the 400 kV West Burton substation, while Heckington Fen will link to Bicker Fen. These developments also bring local benefits, including biodiversity enhancements and job opportunities. #SolarEnergy #Renewables #NetZero #CleanEnergy #UKInfrastructure #Sustainability #EnergyTransition https://lnkd.in/ekQbtBBm

🌏 In the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, we simply can’t afford lengthy delays in establishing renewable energy projects. Understanding how and why these delays occur is critical to ensure that renewable energy projects in Australia deliver what’s best for people and nature. That’s why we’re excited to partner with the Urban Transformations Research Centre (UTRC) at the University of Western Sydney to help streamline environmental approvals.    ⚡Fast - to address climate change before it’s too late.   🏆Best – to reverse biodiversity loss caused by climate change.  ⚖️Just – to achieve an inclusive and resilient transition for all communities, especially First Nations. We’ll dive deep into data, identify bottlenecks, and work towards improving processes, for strong, clear, and consistent environmental regulations. Achieving an energy transition that’s good for people and nature isn’t easy, but we have the solutions. 💡🌱 Stand by for the project results in August! Meanwhile, learn more about the transition to a renewables future:  https://lnkd.in/g9_yNEVs #WWFAustralia #Renewables #Climate

CEP Renewables has started construction on its 19 MWdc grid-supply Foul Rift solar project in White Township, New Jersey. The project is being developed on a brownfield - an environmentally impaired site - that has ben the host of a composting facility for nearly three decades. During that time, the facility received 92 separate notices of environmental violations from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). Most of these violations were due to contamination caused by the composting facility's operations. After extensive environmental investigations, it was found that the soil was contaminated with metals, including arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which require institutional control. In order to bring the site into compliance with the NJDEP, CEP removed the remaining berm of compost and waste materials and worked with the NJDEP to resolve the remaining violations and terminate the solid waste permit. "This project is the perfect example of the use of the renewable energy subsidy to not only reduce the regional carbon footprint but also remediate environmental damages that would not have otherwise been addressed," said Chris Ichter, EVP at CEP Renewables. "We are pleased to have been able to leverage our prior experience on similarly challenging landfill and brownfield solar projects to develop a successful public-private partnership with White Township that will positively impact generations to come." The project development not only completed the environmental remediation at the site but will also provide reliable clean energy, pollinator habitats, and greater tax revenue for the local community. The fixed-tilt, bifacial solar module project is expected to be commercially operational by September 2024 and support the state in achieving 100% clean electricity by 2035. To save energy & cost for your business, contact me at https://buff.ly/2EjAMbu. #Reliability #EnergyStorage #EnergyEfficiency #Renewables #EnergyAudit #Procurement #Resilience https://buff.ly/3RPBLW2