Low Carbon has launched its second consultation on refined proposals to build a new solar and energy storage park on land near Gate Burton, Lincolnshire.
The consultation will run from 22 June to 5 August 2022. During this time, Low Carbon is asking for the views of communities living close to the site as well as those from the wider area. The consultation precedes Low Carbon submitting its application for development consent to the Planning Inspectorate.
Comments will be invited on topics including the updated masterplan, visual impact considerations and the electrical connection into the national grid at Cottam substation. Low Carbon will also be asking people for their views on how community benefit initiatives linked to Gate Burton Energy Park could be administered and managed, as well as for further suggestions of local projects and community initiatives that could be supported.
Mike Rutgers, development director at Low Carbon, said: “This is a major milestone for Low Carbon as we approach our planning submission. We’ve taken into consideration the feedback provided by the local community earlier this year which, alongside our ongoing technical and environmental surveys, has helped us to refine our proposals to those you see today.
“The community asked us to work with other developers in the area to reduce cumulative impacts. You’ll see from our new plans that we’re proposing to do just that. By seeking to align our Grid Connect Route with other proposals in the area, we hope to pursue the most efficient way of working and minimise any adverse impacts on the community.
“We’re looking forward to meeting the local community again in the coming weeks and explaining the measures we’re proposing to ensure Gate Burton Energy Park sits sensitively in the local landscape, preserving wildlife and habitat.”
The land outlined for Gate Burton Energy Park is in the West Lindsey District near Gate Burton, Knaith Park and Willingham-by-Stow. The renewable electricity the solar energy park generates would then be exported into the national grid via a connection into the existing substation at Cottam Power Station in Nottinghamshire.
With an anticipated generation capacity of 500 megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity, the scheme could provide enough clean energy to power over 160,000 homes and avoid more than 100,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year.
The proposed energy park would also include an on-site energy storage system which would provide an important balancing service for the national grid. This would allow the renewable electricity generated by the panels to be stored on site at the times when grid-demand is low and then exported at times of higher demand, maximising the contribution of renewable energy to the national grid, and in turn, helping to address the climate emergency.
“Low Carbon is committed to having a lasting and positive impact on climate change,” explains Rutgers. “Gate Burton Energy Park would make a vital contribution by ensuring the supply of clean electricity to UK consumers when it is needed.
“We want to encourage as many people as possible to take part in this second stage of consultation and provide us with their views. Continued engagement with the local community has a critical role to play in helping us deliver a renewable energy scheme that contributes to the country’s future energy needs while also considering the needs of neighbouring communities.”
The Gate Burton Energy Park project website has been updated to include information about its refined proposals and will enable people to submit comments online. A series of information documents have also been added to the website to provide further details. Printed copies of these documents are available to view at five publicly accessible ‘document inspection locations’ in the vicinity of the project. Upon request, the project team can also provide printed or digital copies of these documents.
In addition, over 7,000 postcards have been mailed to local homes and business across the area to let people know the consultation is taking place and guide them to where they can find more information about the project.
Individuals are also invited to come along to public information events being held. Members of the project team will be on hand to answer any questions about the project, outline what is being consulted on and explain how people can take part.
Feedback to the consultation can be provided in writing (in a letter or feedback form), or online via the project website. People are also encouraged to register their details on the project website to ensure they receive updates about the consultation and events taking place as it becomes available.
