Developers propose plans for UK’s largest solar energy system

New solar farm could begin producing electricity by 2020

Hive Energy and Wirsol Energy have submitted plans to develop the largest solar farm in the United Kingdom. If the proposal moves forward, the developers plan to have the solar energy system begin generating electricity by 2020. The plan must be approved by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which has shown some support for solar power in the past. Once completed, the new solar farm will significantly increase the UK’s solar energy capacity.

Solar energy system aims to have a maximum capacity of 350 MW

Called the Cleve Hill Solar Park, the proposed project will cover some 900 acres. According to the developers, the solar energy system will have a maximum capacity of 350 megawatts. This is enough to provide electrical power to approximately 110,000 average homes. This will make it the largest solar energy system in the United Kingdom once it is completed. The actual size of the project has been a cause for concern among environmental advocates.

Solar farm attracts criticism from environmental advocates

The project has drawn criticism from some environmentalists, whom suggest that it may have an impact on migrating birds and other animals. There are also concerns regarding how much government support such large-scale projects receive. Smaller projects may become much more uncommon as developers seek to form larger solar farms, which could have some ecological and economic impact. These concerns have slowed the development of some solar energy projects in the past, as they have sparked government studies concerning their environmental impact.

Renewable energy continues to gain momentum in the UK

The United Kingdom has been showing strong support for renewable energy in recent years. Wales and Scotland, specifically, have aggressive plans to replace fossil-fuels with various forms of clean power by 2020 and 2030. Solar energy has become a popular form of clean power in the country. In the coming years, the UK is expected to become a leading renewable energy market, especially where wind power is concerned.