Island Green Power has unveiled plans for a utility-scale solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) project, slated for development in Norfolk, England.
With a potential generation capacity of 500MW, the East Pye Solar Project will be classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and will require a Development Consent Order (DCO) from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) before development can begin.
The planned project would be located on various sites near Long Stratton in South Norfolk and is expected to have a 60-year lifespan. The development will connect to existing transmission infrastructure in the area, namely a 400kV overhead line that runs between the Norwich Main and Bramford substations.
The project has also been designed with up to 500MW of BESS on site, in an effort to boost grid flexibility in the local area.
The project is in the early stages of development at present, with the first round of community consultations set to begin this autumn. Island Green Power expects the planning and approval process to take between two and three years, and plans to submit the DCO application to DESNZ in late 2025. Environmental surveys to determine the best location for the development across the available land have already begun and will be presented as part of the upcoming community consultations.
Commenting on the launch, an unnamed East Pye Solar Project spokesperson said: “Solar parks have a role to play in the local community they’re situated in, and we believe the local community knows best what it needs from such a development. As such, we are committed to a robust and transparent engagement process which will include inviting recommendations from local communities as to what benefits the project should deliver.
“Our proposals for the East Pye Solar Project would provide the opportunity to explore ecological enhancements in the area, and we are committed to achieving a biodiversity net gain across the site. To reach this, a number of wildlife enhancement measures will be considered. We believe the local community is best placed to suggest, comment, and feedback on these measures and will be looking for feedback on this once we launch our first phase of consultation later this year.
“Ultimately, we believe solar parks can, and should, coexist harmoniously with both the local community and the environment.”
The news comes hot on the heels of a huge win for Island Green Power, having recently been granted a DCO for the UK’s biggest solar farm.
