The site from the Forrest Hills entrance
Illustrative image of the solar farm – view from the air
A 16.5 MW solar farm, comprising of 36,000 individual panels that will generate enough energy to power the equivalent of more than 3000 homes.
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Illustrative image of the solar farm – view from the air
Illustrative image of the solar farm – view from the air
The 16.5MW solar farm will consist of 36,000 individual panels that will span 21 hectares (around 52 acres) of University owned agricultural land at Forrest Hills, part of the University’s conference and events space, just off Bailrigg Campus.
Each 1.75metre high, dual-facing, panel will be arranged in rows 8.7metres in length with three metre gaps between each row. The panels will be connected to a series of small inverter stations and a substation that will be clad in stone and slate to fit with the surrounding environment. The panels are composed of photovoltaic cells, which are designed to maximise the absorbency of the sun’s rays whilst minimising solar glare.
The farm will generate enough energy to power the equivalent of more than 3000 homes per year and will reduce annual carbon emissions by more than 2600 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of taking 600 standard cars off the road each year.
Plans include a landscaping scheme that will enhance the hedgerows and woodland, protecting views from local walkers and creating an environment that will support wildlife and increase biodiversity. A Landscape and Visual Assessment was undertaken by The Environment Partnership (TEP), which concluded that ‘Although the character of the site would change as a result of the proposal, the overall landscape character of the wider area would remain predominantly unchanged by the proposed development.’
The Solar Farm will be fully reversible in its infrastructure, meaning that the site can be fully restored to its previous state when the solar farm reaches the end of its life. During its time, solar farms naturally become less effective, so the ability to restore natural habitats is important.
The site extends approximately 21 hectares and consists of mostly agricultural grassland to the east of Bailrigg Campus. A number of agricultural and ecological assessments were made as part of the planning process to ensure the land was suitable for the development and to ensure minimal disruption to the environment. The spatial layout of the solar array has been designed to follow the existing topography and to retain existing features on site such as hedgerows and woodlands which are part of the character and context of the surrounding countryside.