Industry developer Elements Green has announced plans for the UK’s first 1 GW solar and energy storage facility, intended to be constructed in the North West in Nottinghamshire.

The project, referred to as the Great North Road Solar Park, is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and can satisfy the power requirements of approximately 400,000 properties (equating to 100% of homes located in Nottinghamshire). This figure represents a saving of over 250,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

Mark Noone, the project director of Great North Road Solar Park, explains that their plans for the Great North Road project expand on the Trent Valley’s historical background of powering the UK. Noone highlights that with an installed capacity exceeding 1GW DC, the project can help secure the nation’s future energy requirements while making a 1.5% contribution towards the UK’s target to increase solar capacity to 70GW by 2035.

Accelerating the production of sustainable, domestic energy, the project would also contribute towards tackling the cost of living challenge directly by reducing household energy bills.

Work is underway to determine the appropriate locations to facilitate the critical components of the project, including solar panels, on-site energy storage and the infrastructure required to connect the project to the grid at Staythorpe substation. The final element of the project includes a comprehensive biodiversity project, including tree planting, wildflower meadows and wetland area development.

The results from the initial project work will be distributed via the first stage of the community consultation, due to be released at the beginning of 2024. Feedback from the consultation will be used to inform and restructure the proposals, and an additional consultation will follow. Noone emphasises that local communities have a critical role in helping inform and influence how proposals for the Great North Road Solar Park evolve. The project director wants this project to be delivered responsibly and is committed to consulting broadly and as effectively as possible, collaborating with residents, businesses and community organisations to strengthen the proposals as the project progresses.

Noone is very keen to recognise any initiatives they could support to benefit the communities closest to the development via their community benefit scheme called NG+, which will run in association with the project. NG+ will be available in the region of £1 million every year, offering grants for residential and commercial energy efficiency schemes and small-scale renewable energy projects, through community energy initiatives, apprenticeships, school projects, woodland and biodiversity plans. Noone highlights the NG+ plan in addition to the estimated contribution of £1.5-3 million in business rates to the Newark and Sherwood district. The project would not depend on any government subsidy.

It’s believed that the development plans for the Great North Road Solar Park will take approximately two years. Based on securing consent, construction would start in 2027. Further details on the project are available at www.gnrsolarpark.co.uk.

‍