Developers of solar farms are expected to provide payments to nearby residents as part of plans being discussed to address local concerns.
According to Solar Energy UK, areas affected by the Government’s expansion of solar energy could begin receiving annual payments by the end of the year.
The industry is working with the Government to establish a “community benefits” fund, which local councils or trusts could manage.
In West Lindsey, Lincolnshire, where five solar projects are planned despite opposition, councillors have called for contributions to mitigate the impact on rural areas.
They have also suggested direct payments through reduced energy bills, which Octopus Energy supported.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband recently emphasised the need to accelerate the UK’s transition to clean energy, pledging to confront obstacles to progress.
A spokesperson from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero stated: “Where communities live near clean energy infrastructure, they should benefit directly from it.
“We are also considering a range of options and incentives to better match where energy is generated and used.”
While no decision has been made, a government source confirmed that the possibility of lower energy bills for residents near solar farms is being explored.
Chris Hewett, chief executive of Solar Energy UK, noted that most of the public supports solar projects but acknowledged that opposition can arise.
“You’re always going to get people who will set up a protest group and object,” he told UK newspaper The i.
He added that the industry is developing a “community benefits” framework with the Government, explaining that payments would be based on the size of the development and made annually over the project’s lifetime, which could span 30 years or more.
