News: Solar farm plans for Rotherham energy site

Another planning application has been submitted for a solar energy project on agricultural land close to an existing wind farm in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported in 2015 on Banks Renewables' (now OnPath Energy) plans for a 5MW solar photo voltaic (PV) scheme close to its Penny Hill wind farm site at Ulley, which sits to the south east of Rotherham and west of the junction of the M1 and M18.

With OnPath also developing plans for a £60m, 49MW project on green belt land to the west of the Todwick Road Industrial Estate in Dinnington, another firm announced proposals for land at Ulley earlier this year.

Applicants Abei Energy hope to install solar panels on two parcels of land which lie north and south of Carr Lane, which would be known as Piper Lane Solar Farm.

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With an operational phase of 40 years, the proposed development would comprise the construction and operation of an approximate 31.2MW solar array, 11.97MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), and its associated infrastructure on a site of circa. 31ha.

The installation will include approximately 50,700 state-of-the-art polycrystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, capable of generating enough clean energy to power approximately 11,500 homes. This has been reduced from initial proposals that showed 71,500 solar modules.

Applicants say that the plans will address national and local support for renewable energy generation projects whilst supporting farmers and landowners to diversify. The plans add that sheep grazing could continue, minimising the impact on existing land use.

Regarding the green belt site, the application, prepared by Arthian Ltd, states: "The proposal is therefore considered to be an exception, as the benefits outweigh any potential impact, especially considering the national target of 100% renewable energy generation by 2030 and amendments to planning policy in relation to renewable developments. The proposal includes a shared agricultural use for sheep grazing, which will maintain the existing land use. The Application Site will be restored into its existing condition upon decommissioning, and thus any potential impact on the Green Belt will only be temporary in nature."

Plans conclude: "The Proposed Development will contribute towards the transition to a low carbon economy and national and local net zero ambitions. The co-location of battery storage will also maximise energy generation and security of supply. Environmental benefits will also be released by way of positive BNG [biodiversity net gain] through proposed landscaping and habitat creation."

Abei Energy

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News: AECOM to lead on Rotherham solar energy project

Renewable energy developer OnPath Energy has appointed specialist infrastructure consultancy AECOM as lead consultant for its solar scheme in Rotherham.

Planning permission for a £60m project on green belt land to the west of the Todwick Road Industrial Estate in Dinnington was secured in 2023.

AECOM is leading on the delivery of the Common Farm Solar Energy Park and is working alongside OnPath (formerly Banks Renewables) on all aspects of its construction, including planning, transport, engineering and environmental management, as well as the design of its power system.

OnPath Energy is expecting construction work to begin in the summer and to finish before the end of 2026, with the build out providing opportunities for regional subcontractors and suppliers in the coming months.

AECOM is already working on the delivery of OnPath Energy’s Barnsdale Solar Energy Park, which is located to the east of Leeds.

The Common Farm Solar Energy Park will have an installed capacity of up to 49MW, which is enough to meet the average annual electricity requirements of up to 18,800 family homes and would displace over 11,470 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the electricity supply network each year.

A 50 MW battery storage facility will also link directly into the Thurcroft electricity sub-station around three kilometres to the north of the site, which will help make the energy grid more efficient, facilitate more renewable energy generation and support the long-term security of energy supplies to UK consumers.

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The Common Farm Solar Energy Park’s detailed ecology and biodiversity strategy will ensure it delivers a net benefit in biodiversity to the local community, with the ground around and beneath the solar panels being used to create a wildflower meadow.

Local consultation work is continuing to determine how the annual £50,000 package of community benefits that forms part of the project, which could equate to more than £2 million through its lifetime, can best be used to support local community and environmental priorities.

Martin Kellerman, construction director at OnPath Energy, said: “The Common Farm Solar Energy Park will bring a wide range of direct environmental, energy security and community benefits to the local area, and will further increase the contribution that OnPath Energy is able to make towards helping the UK meet its crucial Net Zero targets.

“AECOM has extensive experience of delivering large infrastructure projects like the Common Farm Solar Energy Park and has the expertise to manage all the different types of work that will go into creating it.

“We’ve seen how effectively their team is working at our Barnsdale Solar Energy Park site and we’re very pleased to be extending our working relationship with them here.”

OnPath website

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News: Rotherham wind farm sold

Brookfield, a leading global asset manager with $850bn of assets under management, is acquiring Banks Renewables and a raft of wind farms, including one in Rotherham.

The Banks Group, founded in 1976, established its renewables business in 2006 and has grown to become one of the UK’s leading independent owner/operators of onshore wind.

Brookfield is a Canadian multinational company based in Toronto which invests in real estate, renewable power, infrastructure, credit and private equity.

Banks Group currently has 11 onshore wind farms across Yorkshire, the North East, the North West and Scotland.

This includes six 132m turbines at Penny Hill Farm in Ulley which secured planning permission in December 2010 and an extension was recently secured allowing operations to continue until 2053.

In addition, Banks Renewables have been progressing plans for a £60m solar farm at Common Farm near Dinnington, also in Rotherham.

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Founder and Chairman of the Banks Group, Harry Banks OBE DL, says: “I believe that Brookfield’s established position in the renewables industry and the strong cultural fit that exists between both businesses will lead to this acquisition being to the benefit of all parties involved.

“The greater resources of Brookfield will enable the fuller development of opportunities which Banks Renewables are introducing. It will be good for Banks Renewables’ employees and their career prospects, and it will be good for Brookfield because they are acquiring a renewables business with a proven track record and a capability to take the business forward.

“This is also good news for other Banks Group businesses and their employees, who will continue to develop our existing businesses in land, property, mining and in developing our new regional housebuilding business, Banks Homes.”

Sebastian Perl, Vice President at Brookfield, adds: “The United Kingdom is a high-quality location for renewable energy development and we are delighted to have made a further commitment to this market.

“We have a track record of being long-term owners of renewable energy businesses around the world and we see great potential to continue the great work that Banks Renewables has already achieved.”

The Banks Group was advised by Rothschild & Co (corporate finance and M&A) and Ashurst (legal) during the transaction.

Banks Group’s other businesses, including Banks Property, Banks Homes, Banks Mining, Banks Transport and Banks Plant Solutions, will continue to operate as normal.

Banks Renewables website

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News: £60m Rotherham solar farm gets go ahead

Plans for a £60m solar farm in Rotherham, which includes thousands of solar panels installed on green belt land, have been granted planning permission after the Secretary of State decided not to intervene.

Rothbiz reported last year that independent renewable energy firm Banks Renewables had submitted a planning application for a new solar energy park on a 116-hectare piece of agricultural land to the west of the Todwick Road Industrial Estate in Dinnington, around three miles east of Banks’ Penny Hill wind farm at Ulley.

The plans went before the planning board at Rotherham Council last month, with members voting in favour of the scheme after being recommended to give them the green light.

The Common Farm Solar project would have an installed capacity of up to 50MW. This compares to the capacity of up to 20MW at Penny Hill Wind Farm and 44MW at the Templeborough Biomass power station.

Planning permission is for a period of 40 years. The construction period is an estimated 6-9 months.

Developers need to demonstrate very special circumstances for using the green belt land and council planners confirmed that "the benefits of renewable energy raise substantial benefits in favour of the proposal" and environmantal, economic and social benefits amount to a total investment of approximately £61.2m over its lifetime, plus an annual package of community benefits totalling £50,000 a year.

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Because of the use of green belt land, the plans were referred to the Secretary of State to decide if they required further scrutiny. The Secretary of State has now written to the council to say that the government has decided not to call the application, content that it should be determined by the local planning authority.

Jamilah Hassan, community relations manager at The Banks Group, said: “Having had a recommendation for approval for our Common Farm Solar Energy Park proposals from Rotherham Council’s expert planning officers, we’re very pleased that the members of the Council’s planning committee have been minded to follow their advice.

“The response we’ve had to this project from local people over the last year has generally been very positive, and there’s been widespread recognition of the environmental, energy security and community benefits that it will bring to the local area.

“Maximising the production and storage of renewable energy from sources within the UK is a crucial part of our nation’s ongoing journey towards its Net Zero targets, especially with the current energy security and cost of living crisis in mind.

“The Common Farm Solar Energy Park would extend the contribution that we’re able to make locally towards reaching these goals while also increasing the tangible benefits that we can deliver to local communities through the benefits package that forms a key part of the overall project.

“We’re excited at what can be achieved here and hope to be able to move this project forward as quickly as possible.”

Banks Group website

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News: £60m Rotherham solar farm a shade nearer

Plans for a massive solar farm in Rotherham are being recommended for approval by council planners but the Secretary of State will need to see them as it would result in thousands of solar panels installed on green belt land.

Rothbiz reported last year that independent renewable energy firm Banks Renewables had submitted a planning application for a new solar energy park on a 116-hectare piece of agricultural land to the west of the Todwick Road Industrial Estate in Dinnington, around three miles east of Banks’ Penny Hill wind farm at Ulley.

Now the plans are set to go before the planning board at Rotherham Council this month, with members being recommended to give them the green light.

The Common Farm Solar project would have an installed capacity of up to 50MW. This compares to the capacity of up to 20MW at Penny Hill Wind Farm and 44MW at the Templeborough Biomass power station.

Planning permission would be for a period of 40 years. The construction period is an estimated 6-9 months.

On mainly arable fields, Banks' plan for Common Farm is to install rows of 4.5m high solar panels and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). Electricity generated will be taken by cables, overhead or underground, to the Thurcroft electricity sub-station around three kilometres to the north of the site, which will help support the long-term security of energy supplies to UK consumers.

Banks has demonstrated that the application site is the only suitable site within Rotherham and admit that the development "will result in a limited number of adverse affects" but state that it will also generate a number of benefits.

Objections have been received from members of the public and local parish councils who are raising concerns over the visual impact and the loss of farmland and habitat for local wildlife, adding that approval would set a precedent for developing land within the green belt.

A planner's report shows agreement that the development will result in some localised adverse visual effects, and that these effects generally reduce the greater the distance from the site.

A 3.5m high opaque fence adjacent to Todwick Road is required as mitigation for glint and glare from the panels after a creating a bund was discounted on cost grounds. The fence itself "will have an adverse impact on the visual amenity of the area."

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The council do not agree with the applicants that the level of impact on the openness of the green belt is minimal and conclude that the solar farm "would lead to both spatial and visual harm to the Green Belt. The impact would be perceived over a large geographical area and the encroachment would result in a significant adverse effect that would have a harmful impact upon openness.

"Whilst for a temporary period, the operational period of the development, at 40 years, still represents a significant period of time for the proposal to lead to loss of openness. The Local Planning Authority therefore consider that the proposed development would result in inappropriate development in the Green Belt."

Developers need to demonstrate very special circumstances for using the green belt land and council planners confirm that "the benefits of renewable energy raise substantial benefits in favour of the proposal" and environmantal, economic and social benefits amount to a total investment of approximately £61.2m over its lifetime, plus an annual package of community benefits totalling £50,000 a year.

The installed capacity is enough to meet the average annual electricity requirements of up to 18,800 family homes and would displace over 11,470 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the electricity supply network each year.

Planners conclude: "The public benefits of the proposal are of sufficient magnitude to outweigh the substantial harm found to the Green Belt and all other harm identified above. These benefits identified attract very substantial weight in favour of the scheme. In this context, the harm to the Green Belt would be clearly outweighed by the other considerations and therefore the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development exist. Accordingly, the proposal would satisfy the local and national Green Belt policies."

The planning board is due to meet to discuss the scheme on May 18.

Should the board vote to approve the plans, they would then be referred to the Secretary of State who will decide if they requires further scrutiny.

Banks Group website

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News: Banks' bid to keep Rotherham turbines turning

Independent renewable energy firm Banks Renewables wants to operate its wind farm in Rotherham for an additional 15 years, newly submitted planning documents show.

Planning permission was granted for the erection of six 132m turbines at Penny Hill Farm in Ulley in December 2010 with the permission to operate for 25 years from the date on which electricity is first generated.

Pegasus planning consultants have submitted a new application to vary conditions attached to the previous permission so that the operation of the windfarm and its associated decommissioning would be extended to up to 40 years in total.

Plans show that the first export of electricity was 23rd June 2013, and therefore the expiry date of Penny Hill Wind Farm is currently 24th June 2038. This application is seeking permission for an extension until 24th June 2053.

No other aspects of the c20MW wind farm would change as part of the planning application, no new turbines are being planned and all the existing planning conditions under which they currently operate, including those which protect the residential amenity of local residents, would remain unaltered.

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Banks Renewables is applying for extensions to the permitted lifespan for its four onshore wind farms in Yorkshire.

Lewis Stokes, senior community relations manager at the Banks Group, said: “Our Yorkshire wind farms have all been operating efficiently for many years, and our aim is to maximise the significant environmental, energy security and community benefits they can deliver, a process which extending their respective permitted lifespans would allow us to do.

“Many communities across the county have benefited from revenues generated by each wind farm and extending their lifespans would mean even more capital would be available to support projects across surrounding areas.

Recommended reading: Boosting Business Growth: How Rotherham Companies Benefit From Regular Audits “Generating as much of the energy that we all use via renewables is a crucial part of the UK’s journey towards its Net Zero targets and will enable the country to decarbonise its power supply and achieve its climate change targets more quickly than would otherwise be possible.”

By 2021 the Penny Hill Wind Farm had generated enough clean renewable energy to meet the equivalent of the annual electricity demanded by 100,000 homes – which is approximately all of the houses in Rotherham and Doncaster.

Banks Group website

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News: Plans in for new £60m Rotherham solar energy park

A planning application for an innovative new renewable energy generation and storage project on agricultural land has been submitted to Rotherham Council.

If approved, it would result in thousands of solar panels installed on green belt land.

Rothbiz reported in June that independent renewable energy firm Banks Renewables was developing plans for a new solar energy park on a 116-hectare site to the west of the Todwick Road Industrial Estate in Dinnington, around three miles east of Banks’ Penny Hill wind farm at Ulley.

The applicants admit that the development "will result in a limited number of adverse affects" but state that it will also generate a number of benefits.

The Common Farm Solar project would have an installed capacity of up to 50MW. This compares to the capacity of up to 20MW at Penny Hill Wind Farm and 44MW at the Templeborough Biomass power station.

Planning permission would be for a period of 40 years. The construction period is an estimated 6-9 months.

On 116 hectares of mainly arable fields, Banks' plan for Common Farm is to install rows of 4.5m high solar panels and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). Electricity generated will be taken by cables, wither overhead or underground, to the Thurcroft electricity sub-station around three kilometres to the north of the site forms part of the project, which will help support the long-term security of energy supplies to UK consumers.

Fences will be erected for security and to prevent glare and hedgerows around the site will be "gapped up" to provide landscape and visual mitigation. On top of mitigation measures, applicants are proposing biodiversity measures.

A detailed ecology and biodiversity strategy which will ensure the site delivers a net benefit in biodiversity to the local community also forms part of the scheme. Measures include bat and bird boxes and areas of scrubland.

The ground around and beneath the solar panels will be used to create a wildflower meadow and there will be increased planting of hedgerows, while part of the site will also be managed to encourage Lapwings to thrive.

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In terms of economic benefits, the planning documents say that the development represents £61.2m of investment over the lifetime of the project which would "contribute to the diversity and security of the UK's energy supply by generating electricity from a sustainable, indigenious resource and providing energy storage facilities."

In a similar move to Penny Hill, Banks says that it would deliver an annual package of community benefits totalling £50,000, or more than £2m through its lifetime to support local community projects.

Adverse impacts include localised adverse landscape and visual affects.

With regard to the use of the greenbelt, documents state: "Such developments need to be built if we are going to achieve net zero ... there are no alternative suitable sites within Rotherham that are located out with [sic] the green belt" and add that the development "will not result in a significant encroachment into the countryside that will undermine the purpose of the green belt."

Lewis Stokes, senior community relations manager at The Banks Group, said: "Maximising the production of renewable energy from domestic sources is a crucial part of the UK’s ongoing journey towards its Net Zero targets, especially within the current energy security climate.

“The Common Farm solar scheme will extend the contribution that we’re able to make locally towards reaching these goals while also increasing the tangible benefits that we can deliver to local communities through the benefits package that will form a key part of the project.

“We’re excited at what can be achieved through this important project and hope that Rotherham Council’s planning committee will support our vision for delivering it.”

Banks Group website

Images: Banks / Wardell Armstrong

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News: Plans for new Rotherham solar energy park

Plans for an innovative renewable energy generation and storage project in Rotherham.

Independent renewable energy firm Banks Renewables is developing a planning application for a new solar energy park on a 116-hectare piece of agricultural land to the west of the Todwick Road Industrial Estate in Dinnington, around three miles east of Banks’ Penny Hill wind farm at Ulley.

After undergoing a detailed land search, the Common Farm site was identified as having the best opportunity to create a solar farm that links directly into the nearby electricity substation.

The Common Farm solar project would have an installed capacity of up to 50MW, which would be enough to meet the annual energy requirements of up to 18,800 family homes and would displace over 11,470 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the electricity supply network each year.

A 50MW battery energy storage system linking directly into the Thurcroft electricity sub-station around three kilometres to the north of the site would also form part of the project and would help to support the long-term security of energy supplies to UK consumers.

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As part of the company’s policy of delivering tangible benefits to the places in which its operations are based, at least £50,000 of the revenues generated by the Common Farm project would be made available every year as part of a package to support local good causes. This equates to more than £2m through the lifetime of the project.

A detailed ecology and biodiversity strategy is also being developed to ensure the site delivers a net benefit in biodiversity to the local community.

Banks Renewables is expecting to submit a planning application to Rotherham Council for the new scheme in the coming months, with a view to it being determined before the end of the year.

A leaflet containing comprehensive information on the project will be delivered to around 11,000 local homes in the coming days, while a dedicated project website has also been set up to ensure information on the scheme is easily available.

Banks Renewables is one of the leading owner/operators in the UK’s onshore wind sector and has a total of 11 operational sites across northern England and Scotland, four of which are in Yorkshire.

Lewis Stokes, senior community relations manager at The Banks Group, says: “Maximising the production of renewable energy from domestic sources is a crucial part of the UK’s ongoing journey towards its Net Zero targets, especially within the current energy security climate, and the Common Farm solar scheme will further extend the contribution that we’re able to make locally towards reaching these goals.

“The project is located in an area that we know very well, and having conducted a detailed search, we identified this site as providing the best opportunity to create a solar park that links directly into the Thurcroft substation.”

Jill Askew, solar and flex project manager at Banks Renewables, adds: “As more sources of renewable energy are connected to the system, more innovative ways of storing the electricity they produce will be required.

“Peaks of energy demand usually take place in the morning and early evening, but this is not necessarily when renewable energy is being generated.

“The battery energy storage system at Common Farm would help to ensure reliable, stable and balanced electricity grid operation at times of peak demand and would support the UK’s continuing drive towards its Net Zero ambitions.”

Banks Group website

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News: HS2 release further info on how route affects Rotherham

HS2 Ltd has begun consultation on environmental impacts and mitigation as the designs evolve for the high speed route which is set to head through Rotherham. It highlights that more land is needed during construction.

In July 2017, the Secretary of State for Transport confirmed the preferred route for the £55.7 billion HS2 project from Crewe to Manchester and from the West Midlands to Leeds (known as Phase 2b). A spur to Sheffield is included and the fast route to Leeds would go through the East of Rotherham and would affect Wales, Aston, Ulley, Brampton-en-le–Morthen, Thurcroft, Bramley, Ravenfield and Hooton Roberts. A new housing estate at Mexborough will also have to make way.

Consultation is underway on the working draft Environmental Statement, which describes the design of the railway and reports on the impacts of its construction and operation, alongside the measures proposed to reduce and monitor these impacts; and the working draft Equality Impact Assessment Report.

The public consultations will be supported by a programme of community events, which will see teams from HS2 Ltd visit locations across the eastern and western legs of the Phase 2b route to talk to people about the design plans.

Hellaby Hall Hotel hosts an event on October 30 with the Best Western Aston Hall Hotel hosting HS2 Ltd on November 6.

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As the bills make their way through Parliament, design work has continued on how the line may look, from box tunnels, cuttings and embankments, to bridges and viaducts.

Entering the borough from the South, the route follows the M1 and passes to the west of Woodhall Services to Wales on a series of cuttings with embankments. The route crosses School Road at Wales before continuing through cuttings and an underground box before a 244m long, 18m high viaduct over the Sheffield to Worksop Railway, Pigeon Brook and floodplains at Aston. Nicker Wood embankment is set to be 513m in length and up to 21m in height with futher embankments and a cutting at the A57 near to Junction 31 of the M1.

The route passes the M1/M18 junction on a series of long, high embankments and viaducts. The Ulley embankment is 1.2km in length and up to 21m in height and Thurcroft North viaduct would be 640m in length and up to 22m in height, crossing over the M18. Noise barriers are proposed here.

A retained cut is proposed at Bramley and Hellaby before the route heads northwards on an embankment before it passes beneath the A630 Doncaster Road in a cutting.

The Proposed Scheme is expected to be constructed between 2023 and 2033. Details of locations for construction compounds and road realignments were released in June and now the latest documents show what land is needed for the construction of the route.

The maps show further areas around the route as "land potentially required during construction" and land for "temporary material stockpile."

HS2 Ltd state in the documents: "Based upon a reasonable worst-case approach, the design and assessment at this stage generally assumes that all property falling within the land required for the Proposed Scheme would be demolished to enable construction and operation. However, as the design develops, it is likely that not all the properties reported within the assessment would need to be demolished, for example where not all of the land is required for permanent works.

"Land used only for construction purposes would be restored as agreed with the owner of the land and the relevant planning authority once the construction works in that area are complete."

The documents confirm: the loss of 15 residential properties in Wales; the loss of 40% of Aston Park and Engine House Plantation in Aston; the permanent loss of Parklands Equestrian Centre in Aston; the demolition of two residential properties on Worksop Road, that the route would "permanently physically affect two Grade II listed buildings at Nickerwood Farm"; the demolition of a wind turbine located within Penny Hill Wind Farm.

Work is also continuing on mitigation measures such as restricting working hours, screening views, dealing with noise during construction and operation, providing links and access, creating new habitats and avoiding or reducing impacts on floodplains.

The documents also mention the "northern loop" to join the HS2 line with Sheffield station, which is yet to be confirmed by the Government in terms of funding or inclusion in the HS2 project. Designs are being developed for a 6.7km long Sheffield Northern spur between Clayton and Thurnscoe which would connect the Dearne Valley Line existing railway to HS2.

Leonie Dubois, head of consultation and engagement at HS2 Ltd, said: "HS2 is coming to the north and it will reap significant benefits as a result. High speed rail will play a crucial role in rebalancing Britain's economy; driving business growth, stimulating investment and creating jobs right across the country.

"Through the public consultations, we are providing a more detailed account of how we propose to build the railway and minimise its impacts during construction and operation. We actively encourage people to have their say on the plans we have published today."

HS2 website

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News: Rotherham solar farm set for planning approval

Plans for a 5MW solar energy project on the site of a wind farm in Rotherham are being recommended for approval.

Banks Renewables is looking to install the scheme at its Penny Hill wind farm site, to the south east of Rotherham and west of the junction of the M1 and M18.

The Durham-based developer secured planning permission for the six turbine wind farm at Ulley in 2010. Backed by £21m from the Co-operative Bank, turbines with a maximum height of 132m were built on green belt land.

Approximately six hectares of current agricultural land in the south east corner of its Penny Hill wind farm site would be covered by solar panels, up to three metres in height. If approved, the installed capacity of up to 5MW would provide enough electricity for approximately 1,320 homes.

Approximately 18,280 panels would be installed rated at 270W with the lower edge around one metre above ground level enabling safe grazing by smaller livestock. It is set to use the existing grid connection on the Penny Hill site.

The planning application is set to be discussed by councillors this week and approval would be for a temporary period of 23 years, the same length of time that the wind turbines are set to be in operation.

Objections have been raised on the loss of agricultural land and the impact on the green belt and Ulley conservation area.

Planning officers at Rotherham Council are recommending that the plans be approved, with a number of conditions.

A report to the planning board concludes that even though the extent of the benefits in this instance is limited to the provision of renewable energy, this does constitute very special circumstances for development in the green belt.

The report adds: "The development would have limited harm upon the openness of the green belt, by reason of encroachment, as a result of the fields proposed being well screened as existing, together with enhanced screening measures proposed. There would also be limited other harm, with the development having minor visual impact upon the immediate and wider landscape."

Conditions include giving the applicants five years instead of the usual three to develop the plans. This is due to changes to the Government subsidy regime announced since submission of the application that could affect the financial viability of future solar energy projects.

Banks Renewables website

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News: Plans in for Rotherham solar farm

18,280 solar panels could be installed on farmland at Ulley in Rotherham under recently submitted plans for a new solar energy project on the site of a wind farm.

Renewable energy firm Banks Renewables is looking to install a 5MW solar photo voltaic (PV) scheme in the south east corner of its Penny Hill wind farm site, which sits to the south east of Rotherham and west of the junction of the M1 and M18.

The Durham-based developer secured planning permission for the six turbine wind farm at Ulley in 2010. Backed by £21m from the Co-operative Bank, turbines with a maximum height of 132m were built on green belt land.

Approximately six hectares of current agricultural land would be covered by solar panels, up to three metres in height. If approved, the installed capacity of up to 5MW would provide enough electricity for approximately 1,320 homes.

Approximately 18,280 panels would be installed rated at 270W with the lower edge around one metre above ground level enabling safe grazing by smaller livestock.

The planning approval would be for a temporary period of 23 years, the same length of time that the wind turbines are set to be in operation, and the developers are offering to add to the £40,000 made available for local community causes.

Banks said that it has designed the project to allow for its existing grid connection on the Penny Hill site to be used for the new scheme, and is also using the existing access tracks to further minimise any impact on the local community.

The plans state that a key characteristic of the development is its "low impact and high reversibility," adding that "the design will not involve the introduction of concrete foundations or large areas of hardstanding. This will enable the infrastructure to be easily removed following its operational life and the site to be restored to its current arable use."

It adds: "The site is well contained by the surrounding landform and is screened by the boundary vegetation. Effects on landscape character and landscape value are not predicted to be significant. Due to the topography visibility is predicted to be limited to 1km, and effects will reduce quickly with distance. Where there will be visibility, the solar farm would be viewed in the context of the nearby M1 motorway."

Lewis Stokes, development relations coordinator at Banks Renewables, said: "We have held a number of consultation events and meetings in the community about the proposals, and the response has been fantastic. We know the benefits delivered as part of the Penny Hill wind farm have had a huge impact on projects locally and the solar farm brings an opportunity to do further work in the community.

"However we're not only looking to create a positive effect within nearby communities, we will also encourage greater biodiversity and support the creation of enhanced habitats alongside increasing the amount of clean, green energy we produce at Penny Hill site working with the relevant bodies and local interest groups too."

Banks Renewables website

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News: Singaporean students visit

A visiting party of South East Asian students has been taking a look at a South Yorkshire wind farm as part of an overseas summer school project.

The students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic in Singapore took a tour of the six-turbine Penny Hill wind farm, which is located to the south east of Rotherham and west of the junction of the M1 and M18, alongside representatives of the Barlborough-based business behind the scheme, Banks Renewables.

Organised through the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sheffield and University of Sheffield Enterprise (USE), the engineering students' visit to the site forms part of their studies towards an Overseas Merit Award that will eventually be counted towards their final degrees.

The students who visited the Penny Hill site have been set the challenge of developing their own wind farm, and by the end of their visit to the UK, they will need to produce a technical report on what they would do, make a promotional video about their plans and give an oral presentation to fellow students and others involved with the project on their ideas.

The summer school aims to engage the students in an engineering challenge that will also develop their enterprise skills, and to enable them to get the support of a relevant industry partner, so they can see engineering in action in an area relating to their project, get some input from the partner into their project and ask their approach to their challenge.

Gary Wood, enterprise education developer at USE, said: "Programmes like these are so valuable for students, giving them a real insight into how engineering solutions work in real world environments, and as well as counting towards their degrees, it’s great for their own personal development too."

Lewis Stokes, development relations coordinator at Banks Renewables, added: "We're very pleased to have been able to welcome the Ngee Ann students to our Penny Hill wind farm, and hope everything they saw and heard was useful to them for this project – we were certainly asked lots of questions on the day and we'll be interested to hear how the information they gathered will be used in the students’ final presentation.

"We explained that the approach that we take to onshore wind farm development is very much focused on the local communities around our sites, and also on the economic, employment, social and supply chain benefits that we can bring to them through the projects that we develop.

"The Penny Hill wind farm has worked extremely well in this respect, with local groups and good causes having already received over £40,000 in grants from the scheme's community benefits fund, and with many times that amount still to come in the future."

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News: Penny Hill solar farm plans go on show

As the Government brings forward an end to new public subsidies for onshore wind farms, Banks Renewables has unveiled plans for its proposed 5MW solar photo voltaic (PV) scheme next its current wind farm at Ulley in Rotherham.

The Durham-based developer secured planning permission for the six turbine wind farm at Ulley in 2010. Backed by £21m from the Co-operative Bank, turbines with a maximum height of 132m were built on green belt land to the west of the junction of the M1 and M18.

With an installed capacity of 20.4MW, the Penny Hill wind farm began producing energy in 2013. It produces enough energy to meet the annual electricity consumption requirements of over 12,000 homes – or around ten per cent of all the homes in the Rotherham area.

Now the developer has made its move into the solar energy market and hosted a public exhibition this week to show proposals to create a solar farm on the South East corner of its Penny Hill wind farm site. Environmental investigations have recently been carried out on site to finalise the design of the solar farm.

Approximately six hectares of current agricultural land would be covered by solar panels, up to three metres in height. If approved, the installed capacity of up to 5MW would provide enough electricity for approximately 1,320 homes.

The planning approval would be for a temporary period of 23 years, the same length of time that the wind turbines are set to be in operation, and the developers are offering to add to the £40,000 made available for local community causes.

Banks said that it is designing the project to allow for its existing grid connection on the Penny Hill site to be used for the new scheme, and is also looking at using the existing access tracks to further minimise any impact on the local community.

It added that the part of the site was chosen as it is the furthest away from the village of Ulley, and its layout would mean that the scheme would not be visible from most of that village or from the nearby village of Brampton.

Phil Dyke, development director at Banks Renewables (pictured), said: "The Penny Hill wind farm has been running well for the last two years, and the positive impact that the community funds generated by it is already being felt right across the area.

"The proposals we're now putting forward would enable us to substantially increase the annual amount available for local community improvement projects, and would enable us to make an even greater positive difference to the area by supporting projects that local people want to see actioned.

"The part of the Penny Hill site that we've chosen for the solar PV scheme lends itself well to this sort of development, alongside having minimal visibility from surrounding communities, and we would implement a land management plan over the project's 25 year lifespan that would encourage greater biodiversity and support the creation of enhanced habitats for local flora and fauna.

"We believe this is an excellent location for a scheme which would enable us to increase the amount of clean, green energy we produce at the Penny Hill site."

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News: Energy Minister visits Rotherham wind farm

The Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change, the Rt Hon Edward Davey MP, has been to visit the site of South Yorkshire's newest wind farm, in Ulley, Rotherham.

Mr Davey took a tour of the new £21.9m Penny Hill wind farm, which is located on green belt land to the west of the junction of the M1 and M18, alongside representatives of the Barlborough-based business behind the scheme, Banks Renewables.

The six-turbine scheme began generating renewable energy earlier this year, and is now making a significant contribution towards meeting Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council's renewable energy targets.

With an installed capacity of 20.4MW, the Penny Hill wind farm will produce enough energy to meet the annual electricity consumption requirements of over 12,000 homes – or around ten per cent of all the homes in the Rotherham area.

Around 30 jobs were created directly on site through the construction of the Penny Hill scheme, with related contracts worth over £1.1m awarded to businesses across Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.

In addition to this, Banks has already made a further £50,000 investment to help establish a Warm Zone scheme across the Rotherham area. This scheme will deliver practical measures such as cavity wall insulation and loft insulation into local homes.

Ed Davey MP (pictured above, left), said: "I am delighted to have visited the Penny Hill wind farm, which has created jobs and delivered a range of community and environmental benefits in partnership with local people.

"We remain committed to the deployment of appropriately-sited onshore wind as a key part of a diverse, low-carbon and secure energy mix."

Phil Dyke, development director at Banks Renewables (pictured above, right), added: "We were extremely pleased to welcome the Secretary of State to our Penny Hill Wind Farm, and believe that the way in which it has been developed, built and now operates provides a model of best practice for the industry.

"The most recent Department of Energy & Climate Change figures shows that wind power generated 5.5% of the UK’s electricity needs in 2012, compared to 4% in 2011, but there remains an increasingly pressing need for us to generate substantially more of the energy we all use from such indigenous renewable sources, and we're extremely pleased to be playing our part in meeting this crucial objective."

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News: First turbine tower complete at Rotherham wind farm

Work on the construction of the first turbine tower at the £21.9m Penny Hill wind farm in Rotherham has been completed.

Banks Renewables secured planning permission for the six turbine wind farm at Ulley in 2010. Turbines with a maximum height of 132m, are set to be built on green belt land to the west of the junction of the M1 and M18.

Around 30 jobs are being created directly on site through the construction of the scheme, with a number of contracts also being awarded to local firms for the supply of materials and sub-contract works.

The turbines that have been specified for the scheme have the highest capacity of any ever used in a UK onshore wind farm and are expected to be generating electricity by the end of March.

With an installed capacity of 20.4MW, the Penny Hill wind farm will produce enough energy to meet the annual electricity consumption requirements of over 12,000 homes – or around ten per cent of all the homes in the Rotherham area.

In addition to this, Banks has already made a further £50,000 investment to help establish a Warm Zone scheme across the Rotherham area. This scheme will deliver practical measures such as cavity wall insulation and loft insulation into local homes.

Phil Dyke, development director at Banks Renewables, said: "Erecting the first turbines towers is obviously a real landmark for us, and takes us ever closer to being able to generate substantial amounts of renewable energy from the Penny Hill scheme.

"A great deal of work went into the planning of our delivery schedule to both minimise local traffic disruption and ensure that everyone is fully kept up to date on when deliveries are scheduled to take place, and we're very pleased with how things have gone so far.

"Further deliveries will take place over the coming weeks to enable us to continue the construction process, and we will ensure that everyone remains fully informed about the schedule ahead of any convoys' arrival.

"The wind farm is already making a positive contribution to the local area in several different ways, including new jobs, supply chain support and the Warm Zone scheme, and with regular funding from the wind farm's benefits fund still to come, this is just the beginning of the long-term, positive impact that our work here will have on the local community."

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News: Work starts on Rotherham wind farm

Preparatory development work by Banks Renewables has begun on the site of the new £21.9m Penny Hill wind farm in Rotherham.

The Durham-based developer secured planning permission for the six turbine wind farm at Ulley in 2010. Turbines with a maximum height of 132m, are set to be built on green belt land to the west of the junction of the M1 and M18.

Around 30 jobs are being created directly on site through the construction of the scheme, with a number of contracts also being awarded to local firms for the supply of materials and sub-contract works.

The turbines that have been specified for the scheme have the highest capacity of any ever used in a UK onshore wind farm, and are scheduled to be delivered to the site by early 2013.

The Penny Hill wind farm will produce enough energy to meet the annual electricity consumption requirements of over 12,000 homes – or around ten per cent of all the homes in the Rotherham area.

Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at Banks Renewables, said: “Utilising onshore wind farms like Penny Hill to update the UK's power infrastructure today is already helping to address the energy challenges that we know the 21st century will bring, and we're very pleased to be reaching such an important landmark for this scheme.

“The Penny Hill scheme is already making a positive contribution to the local area through the Warm Zone energy efficiency scheme that we established last year, and with new jobs, commercial opportunities for local firms and regular funding from the wind farm's benefits fund still to come, this is just the beginning of the long-term, positive impact that our work here will have on the local community.

"We're already working closely with local people through a community liaison group to ensure everyone is kept fully up to date with the progress that is being made on site, and look forward to starting to generate safe, clean and sustainable energy at Penny Hill next year."

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News: Banks secures funding for Rotherham wind farm

Banks Renewables has announced a £21.9m funding agreement with The Co-operative Bank to fund the construction of the 20.4MW Penny Hill wind farm in Rotherham.

The Durham-based developer secured planning permission for the six turbine wind farm at Ulley in 2010. Turbines with a maximum height of 132m, are set to be built on green belt land to the west of the junction of the M1 and M18.

The scheme will create 30 jobs during construction and a number of contracts will be awarded to local firms to supply material and conduct sub-contract works. Towers for the turbines will be manufactured by British engineering firm, Mabey Bridge, at their purpose-built factory near Chepstow.

The announcement was made at a meeting of international Energy Ministers last week as part of the Clean Energy Ministerial in Central London.

Neil Brown, group commercial director at the Banks Group, said: "“Utilising onshore wind farms like Penny Hill to update the UK's power infrastructure today is already helping to address the energy challenges that we know the 21st century will bring, and we're very pleased that The Co-operative Bank is continuing to support our investment in state-of-the-art renewables technology."

The development also includes an anemometer mast, together with access roads, crane pads, a control building, a substation, and a temporary compound.

The turbines are expected to be delivered to the site by early 2013, with connection to the local grid expected to be finished in later in 2013.

When operational, the wind farm will have a maximum installed capacity of 20.4 megawatts and generate enough green energy to supply around 10,000 homes annually, equating to approximately 10% of the households in Rotherham.

In addition to this, Banks has already made a further £50,000 investment to help establish a Warm Zone scheme across the Rotherham area. This scheme will deliver practical measures such as cavity wall insulation and loft insulation into local homes in order to help to alleviate fuel poverty and improve domestic energy efficiency on a district-wide basis, and will create further local jobs in itself.

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News: Rotherham wind farm plans approved

Plans for a new wind farm in Rotherham have been approved by the planning board of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.

Developer Banks Developments put forward the Penny Hill proposal, which encompasses six turbines with a maximum height of 132m, to be built on land to the west of the junction of the M1 and M18 at Ulley.

The plans were recommended for approval by the Council's planning officer, and its planning committee backed that recommendation last week.

The planning permission is for a period of 25 years and there are 49 conditions attached relating to geology, landscaping, ecology, restoration, highways, monitoring, television reception, telecommunications, noise and aviation.

Members of the board made visit of inspection to the site before discussing the application at length. 14 people used their right to speak to object to the proposals and the board also heard from the applicant and another supporter of the plans.

Phil Dyke, Managing Director of Banks Renewables, said: "We're obviously very pleased that the Council's planning committee have chosen to support what we strongly believe is a well-designed and thought-out proposal.

"The Penny Hill wind farm will now not only contribute significantly towards meeting the Government's 2020 renewable energy objectives, but will also bring a range of environmental and community benefits to the surrounding area.

"The ever-more-pressing need to generate increasing amounts of renewable energy through schemes such as this is both accepted and growing, and onshore wind energy has a crucial role to play in meeting local and national energy needs over the coming decades.

"The wind farm will generate enough green energy to supply around 10,000 homes annually, equating to approximately 10% of the households in Rotherham.

"Our aim is to begin work on site as soon as possible and we will continue to work closely with local communities to keep them fully informed about the progress we're making."

This is the second wind farm to secure planning permission in Rotherham, following the approval for a site at Loscar, Harthill. Cornwall Light & Power are hoping to have the turbines operational at Loscar this summer.

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