Solar developer 35 Degrees has secured the go-ahead from Cornwall Council to build the UK’s first solar park at a disused tin mine near Truro in Cornwall.
The 7.3 acre site at Wheal Jane will use around 5,000 solar panels to generate 1.34 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of zero-carbon solar power annually. The site’s arrangement of 2-metre high panels will be enough to power 300 households and save around 35,000 tons of carbon dioxide over a 25 year period, compared to a coal power station
35 Degrees will work with SOLON SE – one of the largest solar module manufacturers in Europe and a leading supplier of photovoltaic systems for solar power plants – as well as Cornish solar business Plug into the Sun, to develop the site.
Stephen McCabe, Managing Director of 35 Degrees, said: “This is the first major milestone for the UK in directly harvesting the inexhaustible energy of the sun to address major issues such as energy stability and carbon reduction. It is also the first building block in bringing a new growth industry to Cornwall and the UK. We are excited to be leading the way in this venture.”
Cornwall Council estimates solar power developments could lead to up to £1 billion of investment into the County. The Council is working closely with the renewable energy companies to encourage responsible development and investment that will benefit the local economy.
Carolyn Rule, Cornwall Council cabinet member for the Economy and Regeneration, said: “These are very exciting times - Cornwall is in a fantastic position with this amazing level of interest in renewable technology. We need to make the most of this unique opportunity and we are working with the private sector to ensure that this huge investment brings real benefits to people in Cornwall in terms of new jobs, new infrastructure and business opportunities.”
Interest in solar energy in the UK has been boosted by the Government’s Feed-in Tariff scheme, which was launched in April 2010 and offers attractive subsidies to businesses and individuals that generate renewable energy that can be used on site or fed into the National Grid.
Lucy Hunt, Manager at Cornwall Development Company, said: “We’re seeing the start of a Cornwall solar gold rush as developers need to have built their farms, with full planning consent, by April 2012 to take full advantage of the Government scheme. Significant investment in the county’s infrastructure will provide these developers with a competitive business environment and we’re working with them to create local supply chains to ensure the Cornish economy will benefit from the demand.”
Richard Johnson, UK Country Manager for SOLON SE, added, “We recognise the importance of working with local companies to develop the growing renewable energy sector in the UK, with our proven technologies and experience in solar.”
Wheal Jane was a metal mining operation for 20 years until its closure in 1991, since then it has become home to a number of earth science businesses. Bernard Ballard, Director of Property and Marketing for the Wheal Jane Group concluded: “Securing the UK’s first solar farm application is a significant first step in our plans to create one the of the country’s first business clusters harnessing low carbon energy from solar, wind, hydroelectric, bio-mass and geothermal resources. Up to 11Mw of renewable energy could eventually be generated on the site”
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