The UK Government is planning to amend the regulations to facilitate the development of solar farms and wind turbines. They intend to raise the thresholds that determine when these projects require a more comprehensive planning review.
At present, if a project generates more than 50 megawatts (MW), it is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and necessitates approval from the Secretary of State. However, ministers observe that advancements in technology have made solar panels and wind turbines more efficient, rendering the 50MW threshold outdated.
The government proposes increasing the NSIP threshold to 100MW for wind projects and 150MW for solar projects.This adjustment will permit smaller projects to proceed through the local planning system, thereby expediting and reducing the cost of the approval process.
Evidence indicates that the current 50MW threshold presents challenges, particularly for solar projects. Many projects are designed to remain just below this limit to avoid protracted and costly reviews. The new thresholds aim to better align with the size and complexity of contemporary projects.
Recently, the Secretary of State for Energy approved three substantial solar farms via the NSIP route: Gate Burton in Lincolnshire, Mallard Pass in Lincolnshire and Rutland, and Sunnica in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
Collectively, these projects are expected to generate approximately 1.35GW, sufficient to power nearly 400,000 homes.
For more insights and updates on solar energy developments, be sure to attend the Solar & Storage Live UK event happening from 24-26 September at the NEC, Birmingham.
