News: Whitestone - the £600m planned investment in Rotherham that would create just 39 long term jobs

Planning documents for one of the largest solar farms in the country have been published - all 159 of them.

Rothbiz reported last year on early stage plans being updated for Whitestone Solar Farm - a generating station with an estimated capacity of up to 750MW connecting to the National Grid Brinsworth Substation in Rotherham.

Whitestone has been given a cost estimate of between £500m and £600m. It is being promoted by Green Nation but operates under Net Zero One Ltd.

Initial consultation documents from Green Nation showed that vast areas of agricultural land in Rotherham and Doncaster, some safeguarded for the now-cancelled HS2 route, could make up the solar farm.

The northern site straddles the Rotherham and Doncaster border east of Hooton Roberts and north of Ravenfield.

Farmland adjacent to the M18 south of Bramley and Wickersley has also been identified to host thousands of solar panels, as has vast areas of fields either side of the M1 south of its junction with the M18. This includes sites near Ulley, Aston and Brampton, out towards North and South Anston, and the other way to land between Treeton and Whiston.

In the south of the borough, sites that are included in the proposed solar farm development are close to Kiveton Park, Harthill and Woodall.

Whitestone is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), which means that it is applying for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise its construction, operation and decommissioning. The final decision on a DCO application will be made at the national level by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

A three month pre-examination stage has now begun looking at the issues which will need to be discussed at the examination stage. This next stage is where the applicant, anyone who is registered to have their say, official bodies and people whose land is directly affected can comment on the proposed development or answer any of the questions at each deadline.

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Documents include numerous environmental statements on things like Landscape and Visual Impact (LVIA), contaminated land and transport, plus outline strategies for landscape and ecology management, surface water drainage and Public Right of Way (PROW) management.

However, much of the details are not yet known. Developers want to "maintain flexibility in the design" and instead specify parameter ranges, including details of the maximum, and minimum, size (footprint, width, and height, technology,) and locations of the different elements of the proposed development.

Plans also show that the developers are enacting a compulsory acquisition of land.

Applicants also say that they are proposing a large scheme due to its bulk generation potential and connection to the national grid that means that benefits are felt more widely. It discounts brownfield and rooftop sites due to thier unsuitability and related "ownership, occupation, and upkeep" issues.

On employment, planning documents say that: "During construction, it is anticipated that there would be 1,616 FTE jobs created as a result of direct, indirect and induced employment opportunities and that 538 of these would be from the local Study Area. Once operational, impacts on local labour market arising from operational and maintenance jobs would be more limited but still present, with 39 FTE direct, indirect and induced jobs created."

Promoters of the scheme, which they want to operate for 60 years, say that the proposed development is located on "grey belt land because the site does not strongly contribute to Green Belt purposes" but go on to say that "even if this position is not accepted, there are Very Special Circumstances that clearly outweigh any harm identified in terms of the five Green Belt purposes."

The applicants conclude: "The significant need for low carbon electricity generation infrastructure to meet the government’s decarbonisation objectives, and wider environmental benefits of the proposal, including the significant increase in BNG and creation of new permissive paths locally, would outweigh any harm identified to the Green Belt."

Rotherham Council does not agree that the site is "grey belt" stating that "this part of the Borough performs an important strategic and local function as open countryside in a relatively densely populated area, helping to maintain separation between settlements, prevent encroachment into the countryside and preserve a sense of openness."

Rotherham Council and the local MPs have raised issues with the scheme's consultation.

Rothbiz has detailed the issues raised by Rotherham Council with the Whitestone proposals.

Whitestone website

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News: Rotherham Council raises issues with Whitestone solar proposals

Rotherham Council's issues with a massive solar farm proposed in the borough have been published.

Plans have moved to the next stage for Whitestone Solar Farm - a generating station with an estimated capacity of up to 750MW connecting to the National Grid Brinsworth Substation in Rotherham.

Whitestone is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), which means that it is applying for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise its construction, operation and decommissioning. The final decision on a DCO application will be made at the national level by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Local councils are statutory consultees for NSIPs and a report on Rotherham Council's issues with the proposals has been published with the application documents.

At the earlier stage, the council has commented on 18 separate issues. Proponents of the scheme, Green Nation, address how the latest submission relates to the earlier issues raised.

On the use of Green Belt land, Rotherham Council set out that the solar farm conflicts with the Rotherham Local Plan and national policies, in that "the development would introduce substantial built form and industrialising features into land intended to remain open and to safeguard the setting and separation of settlements."

In response, promoters of the scheme say that the proposed development is located on "grey belt land because the site does not strongly contribute to Green Belt purposes" and go on to say that "even if this position is not accepted, there are Very Special Circumstances that clearly outweigh any harm identified in terms of the five Green Belt purposes."

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Rotherham Council has also raised issue with the loss of Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land which it says is "valuable not only because of its productive capacity for food and other crops, but also because it forms part of a finite soil resource and supports the long-term resilience of rural land use within the Borough."

Applicants argue that the scheme is set to operate for 60 years so any loss is temporary.

On the issue of lifespan, Rotherham Council has raised the issue of the 60 year timescale given that national policy is 40 years. The council said: "Even if the development is technically reversible at the end of its life, the Council considers that reversibility after 60 years substantially reduces the practical weight that can be attached to "temporary" effects in the planning balance.

The council adds that the operation is likely to span more than one generation and that a more nuanced approach would be needed, It said that the "applicant has not yet demonstrated why a 60-year operational life is justified."

Applicants say that in "recent decisions the Secretary of State has confirmed that the 60- year consent lifespan is ""temporary and reversible for the majority of the land.""

Concern has also been raised relating to the "scale, concentration and persistence of significant landscape and visual effects", particularly the impact on settlements such as North Anston, Wickersley, Ulley and Harthill, and various public rights of way and recreational routes. Issues have also been raised with the submitted Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA).

Rotherham Council is also concerned about the harm to the setting of heritage assets and have asked for a robust assessment of setting impacts, including cumulative effects.

The authority is also unhappy with the inclusion of the Local Wildlife Site at Brampton Common within the limits of the scheme. Though applicants say that it is "not being managed to achieve the objectives for which it was designated," a strategy for enhancements has been drafted.

On Biodiversity Net Gain, a way of creating and improving natural habitats, Rotherham Council said that "expressing an intention to achieve a 10% minimum gain does not go far enough." BNG is not currently a legal requirement for NSIPs but applicants say that updated plans show that BNG metrics have calculated that area habitat units would see a 42.52% gain, hedgerow units, a 44.47% gain, and watercourse units, a 10.11% gain.

Rotherham Council has also raised concerns regarding the suitability and capacity of the proposed substation and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) location, along with issues regarding highways, drainage, glint and glare effects arising from solar panels, noise, and how the proposed cable corridor would interact with areas of landfill and potentially contaminated land.

Rotherham Council will now need to digest the 159 planning documents published with the application.

A three month pre-examination stage has now begun looking at the issues which will need to be discussed at the examination stage. This next stage is where the applicant, anyone who is registered to have their say, official bodies, and people whose land is directly affected, can comment on the proposed development or answer any of the questions at each deadline.

At the examination stage Rotherham Council will submit a Local Impact Report (LIR) which the Inspector must consider.

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News: Whitestone solar plans accepted by Government

Plans to build one of the largest solar farms in the country have moved a step forward - it would cover 1,169 hectares of agricultural land in Rotherham and Doncaster.

Rotherham Council and the three local MPs have all raised issues with the application.

Rothbiz reported last year on early stage plans being updated for Whitestone Solar Farm - a generating station with an estimated capacity of up to 750MW connecting to the National Grid Brinsworth Substation in Rotherham.

Initial consultation documents from solar developer Green Nation showed that vast areas of agricultural land in Rotherham and Doncaster, some safeguarded for the now-cancelled HS2 route, could make up the solar farm.

The northen site straddles the Rotherham and Doncaster border east of Hooton Roberts and north of Ravenfield.

Farmland adjacent to the M18 south of Bramley and Wickersley has also been identified to host thousands of solar panels, as has vast areas of fields either side of the M1 south of its junction with the M18. This includes sites near Ulley, Aston and Brampton, out towards North and South Anston, and the other way to land between Treeton and Whiston.

In the south of the borough, sites could be included in the solar farm development that are close to Kiveton Park, Harthill and Woodall.

Whitestone is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), which means that it is applying for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise its construction, operation and decommissioning. The final decision on a DCO application will be made at the national level by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Having assessed application documents, the Government's Planning Inspectorate has now accepted an application for an order granting development consent.

A three month pre-examination stage will now begin looking at the issues which will need to be discussed at the examination stage which is where the applicant, anyone who is registered to have their say, official bodies and people whose land is directly affected can comment on the proposed development or answer any of the questions at each deadline.

Rotherham Council has already made a representation stating that: "it has been made aware of an apparent failure to serve the requisite notice on the occupiers of Springvale Farm, Springvale House, Morthen House, and New Sycamore Farm. In the absence of evidence demonstrating that such service has been lawfully affected, the Council’s position is that the statutory consultation requirements may not have been fully satisfied."

Local councillors, parish councils and local residents have raised insues over the quality and effectiveness of the consultation.

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John Healey, MP for Rawmarsh and Conisborough says that the consultation has been "fundamentally flawed" adding that each of the three sites are seperate.

The MP said: "Residents do not experience the same local impacts across these three areas, and no reasonable observer would describe them as one contiguous or coherent site.

"Instead of respecting the different communities and recognising each of the three schemes should be subject to a separate consultation, Whitestone has lumped the schemes together in a single consultation. No doubt this is for convenience and to cut costs, but aggregating the three schemes deprives communities of a proper consultation and fails to fully discharge Whitestone's obligation under the act."

Jake Richards, MP for Rother Valley, said: "Each of the three schemes exceeds the threshold for a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and therefore requires a robust, standalone consultation. Whitestone's decision to amalgamate them appears to prioritise administrative convenience and cost-saving over compliance with the Act [The Planning Act 2008] and over meaningful engagement with residents."

The MPs are asking the Government's chief planner to assess the the adequacy and validity of the Whitestone consultation.

Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, said: "Should this be found to be inadequate, I would urge you to ensure that proper, detailed consultation, which recognises the unique impacts across the three separate schemes, is undertaken prior to any planning application moving forward."

Applicants are hoping for a decision on the plans in Autumn 2027.

Whitestone website

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News: Plans in for another Rotherham solar farm

A planning application has been submitted for another solar farm in Rotherham - this time for 21 hectares of greenbelt land in the North of the borough.

Rothbiz reported last year on early stage plans from ILOS for a 25 MVA solar farm west of Firsby Lane between Hooton Roberts and Conisbrough.

ILOS unlock value for landowners, communities and investors by bridging the gap between inventive PV solutions and innovative financing models. BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts holds a 60% majority stake and acts as ILOS’s strategic partner and majority shareholder.

Applicants say that the average annual output of the proposed solar farm would be sufficient to power approximately 6,000 homes and reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 4,830 tonnes per annum.

They add that they consider that "the site constitutes “Grey Belt” which does not fundamentally undermine Green Belt purposes" and continue: "even if the site is not considered “Grey Belt” the proposal makes an important to the generation of renewable energy and, as such, very special circumstances would apply which support the proposed development in this location."

Rotherham Counail has previously said that large parts of this site "are designated as best and most versatile agricultural land" and asked the applicants to submit in-depth consideration / justification on the visual impact and the impact on the surrounding landscape and trees as well as the impact on ecology and heritage assets. Particular concerns were raised about the potential cumulative visual impact of the solar farm along with the proposed Whitestone solar farm nearby.

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With a low-lying solar panel array, the applicants say that: "Overall, the effect on the visual amenity and visual character of the study area as a whole will be limited, and the proposals will therefore have only a minor effect on established visual components. The landscaping proposals will remain as a legacy, benefiting local landscape structure and biodiversity, when the scheme is decommissioned on completion of its operational phase."

If approved, the development would export renewable energy to the grid for a maximum of 40 years and some enhancement and mitigation measures are proposed.

Despite the issue being raised by the council, and during public consultation, applicants have not assessed any cumulative impacts, despite the proximity to the Whitestone proposals. They state that there are "no comparable solar PV schemes in the study area nor are there submitted planning applications / unimplemented consented schemes."

Whitestone Solar Farm is a proposed generating station with an estimated capacity of up to 750MW across various sites in Rotherham. It is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), which means that it is applying for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise its construction, operation and decommissioning. The final decision on a DCO application will be made at the national level by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

A DCO submission is currently being assessed.

ILOS website

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News: South Yorkshire Mayor: "Whitestone is the wrong scheme"

Oliver Coppard, the mayor of South Yorkshire says that he is convinced that plans for a massive solar farm that could take up acres of green belt land in Rotherham "is the wrong scheme."

Rothbiz reported last year on early stage plans being updated for Whitestone Solar Farm - a generating station with an estimated capacity of up to 750MW connecting to the National Grid Brinsworth Substation in Rotherham.

Initial consultation documents from solar developer Green Nation showed that vast areas of agricultural land in Rotherham and Doncaster, some safeguarded for the now-cancelled HS2 route, could make up the solar farm.

The northen site straddles the Rotherham and Doncaster border east of Hooton Roberts and north of Ravenfield.

Farmland adjacent to the M18 south of Bramley and Wickersley has also been identified to host thousands of solar panels, as has vast areas of fields either side of the M1 south of its junction with the M18. This includes sites near Ulley, Aston and Brampton, out towards North and South Anston, and the other way to land between Treeton and Whiston.

In the south of the borough, sites could be included in the solar farm development that are close to Kiveton Park, Harthill and Woodall.

Following a second round of consultation, the plans have been updated again.

Proponents of the scheme say that the size of the scheme has been reduced significantly.

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An update reads: "We received more than 10,000 pieces of written feedback. We have now reviewed all of the feedback we received. Where the feedback applied to the masterplan, we have made a number of changes to address concerns.

"In response to feedback from two rounds of consultation and ongoing stakeholder engagement, the size of Whitestone has been reduced significantly. The final size is now 1,169 hectares (2,888 acres), which includes 691 hectares (1,707 acres) for solar and associated infrastructure and 637 hectares (1,181 acres) for environmental mitigation and enhancement. Compared to the initial masterplan, this is a reduction of 37% of the developable area and a reduction of 17% of the total size of the project."

Following a public meeting on the plans, Oliver Coppard said: "I went into the room with significant doubts about the scale of the development, and the huge cost it will impose on the local community. I left the meeting convinced that it is the wrong scheme, with huge flaws in the public consultation, the design and the delivery, and it should not be imposed here, in the heart of South Yorkshire.

"I’ll be taking away all the comments and questions that were raised tonight, and following up with all those who attended and are interested in what we might be able to do to mount an objection to the Whitestone Solar Farm.

"It’s not in my gift to stop the scheme, and I can’t promise that will be the eventual outcome, but I can promise to explore all of our options and to work with partners and our communities to raise our voices together, and to do what we can to make those voices heard."

Whitestone is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), which means that it is applying for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise its construction, operation and decommissioning. The final decision on a DCO application will be made at the national level by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

A DCO submission is expected in Spring 2026.

Whitestone Solar Farm website

Images: Whitestone Net Zero Limited

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News: Rotherham wind farm sold

OnPath Energy, a long-standing developer of renewable energy plants operating in the UK, has sold a number of its wind farms, including one in Rotherham.

Italian company, ERG has snapped up seven onshore wind farms in accross the country in a deal which has an enterprise value of £112.9m.

A development of six 132m turbines at Penny Hill Farm in Ulley in Rotherham was part of the deal. The operators, The Banks Group, secured planning permission for the 20MW capacity site in December 2010 and an extension was later secured allowing operations to continue until 2053.

In 2023, Brookfield, a leading global asset manager with $850bn of assets under management, acquired Banks Renewables and its wind farms. THe company was renamed OnPath Energy.

ERG operates around 4,000 MW globally and, following this transaction, 412MW of installed wind capacity in the UK with a growing portfolio of wind and solar energy projects across nine European countries and in the United States.

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Richard Dunkley, CEO at OnPath Energy, says: “The sale of these seven wind farms was a core part of the business plan that was developed when Brookfield acquired OnPath in 2023, and we are very pleased to have now completed this transaction with such a well-regarded counterparty.

“Acquisitions and divestments are a critical part of our growth strategy, where proceeds from selling mature assets can be used to develop and acquire pipeline with potential for value creation leveraging our team’s deep renewables expertise.

“We will now be bringing forward a range of new proposals for onshore wind farms across Great Britain over the next 12 months that will build on our existing plans to invest around one billion pounds in total in clean energy projects by 2030.”

OnPath Energy said that it will continue to manage Penny Hill Wind Farm on behalf of ERG while the £22,900 annual community benefit fund will be maintained under their new ownership over the project’s lifetime. 

OnPath is currently constructing a £60m, 49MW project called Common Farm Solar Park on green belt land to the west of the Todwick Road Industrial Estate in Dinnington.

OnPath Energy website
ERG website

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News: New scheme set to provide up to 1,500 new electric vehicle charging points in Rotherham

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet has approved involvement in a scheme which could see up to 1,500 new charging points for electric vehicles across the borough.

Around £1.6m of government investment for public electric vehicle charging points is being secured, ensuring a minimum of 500 new chargers are installed.

In March 2024, a Public Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy was approved which set out how the Council intends to improve the infrastructure network throughout the Borough and ensure a network which meets expected demand by 2040. This introduced a number of targets such as 95% of residences to be within 1.5 miles of a publicly available charge point by 2030 and 95% of residences within a ten-minute walk (or 800 meters/ approximately 0.5 mile) of a publicly available charge point by 2040.

Over the last ten years the Council has installed more than 100 parking bays with public charging, as well as adopting Planning policies requiring EV charging provision in new residential and commercial developments. However, projections show that public EV charging provision is likely to need to increase to at least 1,200 charging points in the next fifteen years.

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The scheme, funded through the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund programme, will be managed by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and be facilitated by the Council.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy, Cllr. John Williams, said: “In June this year, 25% of all new car registrations in the UK were electric vehicles, and over the coming years that proportion will only grow. As a result, we will need to step up our efforts to ensure that our public charging infrastructure keeps up with the level of demand.

“Of course, many people who choose to buy an EV now will be able to charge it at home or at work. But this government grant, managed by the Mayor of South Yorkshire’s office, gives us the funding we need to meet our objective of ensuring that a majority of Rotherham households are within walking distance of public charging points, helping to address concerns about households for whom off-street charging is not possible.”

Subject to all four councils in South Yorkshire approving the scheme, SYMCA intend to establish a concession-type contract working with a Chargepoint Operator (CPO) to develop a programme of installations across South Yorkshire.

Current council charging points can be found at car parks, country parks and libraries across Rotherham. The Council had expected to pass 100 public charging bays during 24/25 but admitted that vandalism and cable theft was a significant challenge.

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News: Latest research into fusion technology in Rotherham is super cool

Frozen temperatures are required for the latest research into fusion technology taking place in Rotherham.

Researchers at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) are supporting the development of components needed to deliver fusion power in the UK.

At its Fusion Technology Facility (FTF) on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, UKAEA has unveiled their latest test rig, ELSA, which uses extreme temperatures to inform engineering and design under fusion-relevant plant conditions.

Like its animated namesake, ELSA produces temperatures on a cryogenic scale between 20 and 70 Kelvin (-253.15 to -203.15 degrees Celsius) to simulate the operating temperatures for the high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets.

HTS coils are critical to confining and shaping the plasma within a fusion machine, by generating high magnetic fields with very little resistive losses. UKAEA engineers are looking to achieve resistances of one millionth of that found in consumer electronics. Lowering the temperature for the strongest magnetic fields requires the lowest possible energy use, reducing operational costs and supporting the commercialisation of fusion energy.

ELSA is currently testing novel ‘remountable joint’ (RMJ) components which feature extremely low electrical resistance, and will be essential for efficient maintenance of future fusion power plants.

RMJs are part of a fusion machine’s toroidal field coils, which confine the plasma. They are fitted around the magnetic cage of a tokamak to allow rapid access for maintenance during plant operations.

This novel RMJ design forms a critical part of the UK’s STEP Programme, a prototype fusion energy power plant that is to be built in West Burton, North Nottinghamshire, targeting operations for 2040. RMJs are critical for the success of STEP Fusion as they will allow rapid access for maintenance during power plant operations.

The delivery of the STEP Programme itself is the responsibility of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS), a wholly owned subsidiary of the UKAEA.

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UKIFS’s Remountable Joints Engineering Manager, Chris Lamb said: "Remountable joints, and other aspects of High Temperature Superconducting magnet technology require cryogenic facilities like ELSA to test various aspects of the technologies, and are few and far between. Having the ELSA facility come online at the Fusion Technology Facility, on the doorstep of both STEP’s West Burton site and the rich vein of manufacturing capability at the Advanced Manufacturing Park, will be fantastic in helping the engineers get up close and personal with realising these critical HTS technologies.

Professor Matt Stephenson, Head of the UKAEA’s Fusion Technology Facility added: "Here in South Yorkshire, we are tasked with answering the ‘how?’ in the delivery of commercially viable fusion energy. Our team is working hard to test and provide accurate results that inform us of the optimal environments and materials for durable power plant design. This work also involves looking into the most cost-effective solutions to ensure fusion energy is achieved and maintained sustainably."

A recent report by Amion, on behalf of Local Authorities in the area, estimated that the STEP project would lead to 6,500 jobs on site when the power plant is fully functional – and more during the construction phases, as well as leading to significant infrastructure investment in the wider area for transport and skills. The STEP campus is expected to become a global centre for fusion research and development, working with local education providers to develop a pathway into fusion-related jobs.

The success of STEP in demonstrating this commercial viability will pave the way for the development of a fleet of fusion power plants around the world.

Dr James Cowan, STEP Programme Director at UKIFS underlines the importance of collaboration. He said: "Harnessing the power of the stars to generate clean, sustainable energy on earth requires meaningful collaboration across scientific, engineering and construction disciplines. UKIFS is committed to bringing the best people, and organisations together to deliver STEP, and ELSA is a perfect example of this approach in action."

The facility allows collaboration between leaders in industry and fusion research institutions to test and engineer hard-wearing, purpose-built components. FTF opened in 2020 and is responsible for 85 UKAEA staff who support component design, qualification and supply chain development for commercial fusion power. Operations continue to expand, providing increasing opportunities for the local workforce.

UKAEA website

Images: UKAEA

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News: MP shouting from the roof tops

John Healey MP has gone to new heights to urge Rotherham businesses to follow the example of one of the region’s most innovative manufacturers and embrace rooftop solar to cut costs and go green.

The call comes at the same time as plans are being developed for Whitestone Solar Farm on greenblet land in the area which would have an estimated capacity of up to 750MW.

Bluetree Group, based in Manvers, were one of the first major local businesses to fully embrace rooftop solar. Since Bluetree’s roll out, the company now generates around 20% of its electricity from solar panels.

Healey supported Bluetree’s planning application to install rooftop solar and visited the local business in June to see the progress of the installation. The Member of Parliament is now encouraging other local businesses to follow in the same footsteps and join in with the ‘rooftop revolution’.

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Local firms, Barnsley & Rotherham, and Doncaster, Chamber of Commerce, and energy specialists, came together at Bluetree Group to discuss the benefits of solar on rooftops and to learn from the local manufacturer’s proactive approach to becoming more sustainable.

The drive towards rooftop solar will support the government’s move towards clean energy, as well as helping to protect local green belt. By utilising rooftop space on factories, warehouses, offices and car parks, businesses will be generating renewable energy and powering local industries sustainably.

If local businesses embrace rooftop solar, South Yorkshire could position itself as a national leader in clean energy.

MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough John Healey said, “Bluetree have led the way in rooftop solar in the local area and this is the right time for local businesses to make the transition to green energy.

“This is an exciting opportunity for businesses to utilise their empty rooftops and contribute to Britain’s clean energy goals, whilst cutting energy costs and preserving local green spaces.”

Images: John Healey MP

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News: Rotherham Council’s Net Zero plans for borough

Rotherham Council is working out how the borough can reach Net Zero by 2040 which could include commercial or community-owned renewable energy generation.

A new Local Area Energy Plan would also include assessing the feasibility of a low carbon district heat network in Rotherham town centre.

In 2019, the authority declared a Climate Emergency and agreed a plan of action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated by the council and the wider borough. Targets were set around reducing the council’s greenhouse gas emissions to be net zero by 2030 and Rotherham-wide greenhouse gas emissions to be net zero by 2040.

Net zero greenhouse gas emissions means that the council will aim to reduce missions as much as possible. It will then consider balancing the amount of emissions produced with the amount it can remove from the air.

Tender documents explain that Rotherham Council wishes to understand the capacity of the market to deliver a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) which covers the whole borough.

The plan would set out a pathway to "Net Zero by 2040" in line with local and regional decarbonisation goals, accounting for committed government policy and spending as appropriate.

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Evaluating projects, policies and partnership actions, the plan would also identify opportunities for commercial or community-owned renewable energy generation in the borough.

The documents also state that the council "wishes to understand the capacity of the market, costs and timescales associated with assessing the feasibility of a low carbon district heat network in Rotherham Town Centre, to include the identification of heat network opportunity areas, evaluation of low carbon heat sources (including but not limited to mine water heat, waste heat from industry and air, water or ground source heat pumps combined with renewable electricity generation) and technologies for implementation, delivery models, project costs, forecast return on investment and opportunities to attract external funding and investment."

Heat networks distribute heat or cooling from a central source or sources, and deliver it to a variety of different customers such as public buildings, shops, offices, hospitals, universities and homes. By supplying multiple buildings, they avoid the need for individual boilers or electric heaters in every building.

Rothbiz reported in 2023 that Rotherham Energy Limited had secured £25m to build a new Rotherham Energy Network. Proponents of the scheme, 1Energy, have given it a total investment cost of £61.84m. The low-to-zero carbon (LZC) heat network will distribute upgraded waste heat from the £150m biomass power station at Templeborough.

2.1 miles of pipes would distribute heat starting at Templeborough with a "West Network" that will go south west to the industrial areas and an "East Network" that will go north east to the south-western part of Rotherham town centre.

Passing the AESSEAL New York Stadium, the pipeline could serve Rotherham Council's Riverside House, properties on the High Street, University Centre Rotherham, Clifton Park, the Markets and Rotherham Leisure Complex.

Solar panels are also being installed at the new markets and library and Rotherham Leisure Complex.

Images: Schroders Capital / skyfilming

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News: E.ON looking to invest more than £500m across the Lower Don Valley

Plans have been submitted that show how E.ON's Don Valley heat network will bring low carbon heating to a key economic site in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported last year on proposals to add around 11km to expand the 8km pipe network that is powered by E.ON’s Blackburn Meadows renewable energy plant which uses biomass to provide a source of heating to connected buildings.

Heat networks are a more efficient and more cost-effective way of providing heat to built-up areas by producing and distributing heat from a central source instead of individual boilers in each property.

Already providing heat to businesses, including IKEA UK, Forgemasters' and Ice Sheffield and Sheffield Arena, the plans show a route south of the current network extending from Sheffield Arena to take in Tinsley's industrial estates and Sheffield Business Park before crossing the Parkway to connect to the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

The pilot phase extension will see a Capital Expenditure Investment (CAPEX) of around £40m in Sheffield and Rotherham and the application adds: "E.ON’s ambition is to invest more than £500m across the Lower Don Valley to deliver at scale and pace to provide low carbon, cost effective heat to buildings within this area and the creation of new local jobs totalling circa. 2355 by 2036."

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There is likely to be some disruption on the local highway network during the construction phase due to the need to dig up sections of road to be able to install the pipe network. This will result in short term impacts such as lane closures, road closures and diversion of traffic.

The proposed pipe network also includes above-ground heat pipes that span two bridges, and one underpass between Sheffield and Rotherham.

For the Europa Link Underpass beneath the Parkway the proposal involves fully enclosing the pipework, concealing the exposed heat pipes and minimizing their visual impact.

From the Parkway, pipes would take the network down Poplar Way to the Morrisons roundabout, onto Highfield Spring and Brunel Way, stopping outside Rolls-Royce's Advanced Blade Casting facility with plans showing the potential for a "future expansion connection."

Blackburn Meadows generates 30MW of electrical energy and up to 25MW of thermal energy to power the equivalent of 69,0005 homes and businesses.

E.ON hopes to start construction on the pilot phase in 2027.

In 2023 Rotherham Energy Limited secured £25m to build a new Rotherham Energy Network eminating from the £150m biomass power station at Templeborough.

E.ON website

Images: E.ON

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News: Second consultation for Whitestone solar plans

Developers behind the Whitestone Solar Farm are about to begin a second round of consultation after plans were updated.

Rothbiz reported in April on early stage plans being updated for a solar farm generating station with an estimated capacity of up to 750MW and connecting to the National Grid Brinsworth Substation in Rotherham.

Developers say that they have made "significant changes to the project design" to respond to the feedback received.

Updated documents explain that one fourth of the land (279 hectares / 689 acres) has been removed across the whole site that was included for solar development to create buffers around homes, villages and public rights of way near the project boundary. This has resulted in the removal or reduction of panels around the most sensitive community areas, particularly around residential dwellings.

Due to its size, Whitestone is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), which means that it needs a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise its construction, operation and decommissioning. The final decision on a DCO application will be made at the national level by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, rather than made locally by Rotherham and Doncaster Councils.

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A 450-page scoping report has been examined by the planning inspectorate which provided environmental information outlining the scope and methodology of the technical studies being conducted. It precedes a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The report confirms that the proposed development is being brought forward by Whitestone Net Zero Limited, owned by Net Zero One Limited but it is intended to be constructed, managed and operated by Green Nation.

A leaflet from the developers states: "The first round of consultation ran for 11 weeks, and included public events, meetings with parish councils and other stakeholders, and individual discussions with local residents. We received 940 pieces of written feedback, which we have reviewed and considered, to inform the updated design shown at this round of consultation.

"We are now holding our second consultation on the updated masterplan and draft Environmental Statement, which will help inform the proposals we submit in our DCO application next spring."

The northern site straddles the Rotherham and Doncaster border east of Hooton Roberts and north of Ravenfield.

Farmland adjacent to the M18 south of Bramley and Wickersley has also been identified to host thousands of solar panels, as has vast areas of fields either side of the M1 south of its junction with the M18. This includes sites near Ulley, Aston and Brampton, out towards North and South Anston, and the other way to land between Treeton and Whiston.

In the south of the borough, sites could be included in the solar farm development that are close to Kiveton Park, Harthill and Woodall.

The consultation will be carried out from September 16 to October 28 2025. A number of public information events have been scheduled for October.

Whitestone website

Images: Green Nation / Google Maps

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News: More South Yorkshire businesses set for energy efficiency boost

A project that has supported businesses across the region to cut emissions, reduce costs, and boost efficiency has been expanded thanks to an additional £1.6m investment.

The Low Carbon Project provides dedicated support and a source of funding to help local businesses reduce their energy consumption and carbon emissions but has previously seen a slow take up in Rotherham.

Businesses benefit from fully funded support, including on-site energy surveys and access to capital grants for improvements such as low-energy lighting, insulation, and efficient heating systems.

In the first phase, the project supported 223 businesses with £3.2m in funding. The second phase will run until March 2026 and aims to support a further 144 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster, and Rotherham.

Sheffield City Council is leading the initiative, with the support of South Yorkshire’s other local authorities who are helping to deliver this support across the entire region.

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Erodatools, a second-generation precision engineering company based in Penistone, were supported by the Low Carbon Grant to install 240 solar panels on the roof of the factory it has owned for 52 years.

The new 102kwp photovoltaic system will generate more than 72,000 kwh green energy a year which will cut their annual electricity bills by an estimated £17,000 and reduce their carbon emissions by 14.07 tonnes a year.

The project is part-funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

Rotherham businesses should contact Rotherham Investment and Development Office for assistance.

Last year Rotherham Council reallocated £43,032 from the Low Carbon project to a project which aims to improve business productivity and digital innovation through the provision of capital or revenue grants. A council paper confirmed that: "The Low Carbon project continues to have difficulties in committing grants, whereas the Productivity project has a strong pipeline of applications that can complete quickly."

Councillor Mohammed Mahroof, Chair of the Economic Development, Skills and Culture Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: "We know many business owners want to reduce energy costs and do their bit for the planet, but it can be difficult to plan how to do this effectively, and to find the money to pay for carbon-saving measures.

"That is where this brilliant scheme can help. Specialist advisors will help businesses identify where they can make changes that save budgets and tackle the climate crisis. Low carbon grants give businesses the financial support they need to make changes that will reduce energy costs and carbon emissions."

Low Carbon Project website
RiDO website

Images: RiDO

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News: Local providers step up to fusion skills challenge

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) have announced a new twenty-year collaboration to advance fusion energy training and skills development.

UKAEA’s mission is to lead the delivery of sustainable fusion energy and maximise scientific and economic benefit. The Authority selected the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham as a location for its £22m, 25,000 sq ft fusion energy research facility that opened in 2021.

The collaboration will focus on developing and delivering fusion related skills, including apprenticeships and wider vocational training programmes, to support the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) project – the UK’s first prototype fusion energy power plant that will be built on the West Burton site in Nottinghamshire.

This new collaboration will not only provide crucial skills for STEP but also support a growing fusion industry across the region.

The collaboration will deliver fusion-relevant courses through existing training sites across the East Midlands, South Yorkshire, and Greater Lincolnshire. Colleges, training providers, and universities are already mobilising to offer more places for construction and clean energy qualifications, gearing up the region to deliver on its emerging inclusive growth strategy even before the West Burton facility is in place.

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UKAEA’s Head of Fusion Skills and FOSTER (Fusion, Opportunities, Skills, Training, Education and Research) Programme Director, Nick Walkden, said: “People are the most important element of any programme or project. We have listened and learned from other major research, engineering, and infrastructure projects and believe that an early and focussed attention to local skills and workforce growth will be a critical enabler to success.

“STEP is a programme with global impact and, as with the successive Governments who have recognised fusion’s potential to have a significant and positive impact on the nation’s economy, we are equally committed to leaving a lasting local legacy. The training provided will equip people across the East Midlands, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire with the skills needed for the prototype fusion powerplant at West Burton as well as long-term career opportunities in fusion and beyond.”

Jason Austin, CEO & Principal of the RNN Group, which has facilities in Rotherham and North Nottinghamshire, added: “This collaboration marks a once-in-a-generation opportunity to align education with the future of clean energy. As a local education leader, I’m proud that our institutions will be at the heart of delivering the skills needed for the UK’s first prototype fusion power plant.

"From advanced engineering to cutting-edge construction training, we’re preparing our learners not just for jobs – but for meaningful careers in a globally significant industry. This partnership ensures our region’s young people and adult learners alike have a direct pathway into the green economy of tomorrow.”

UKAEA website

Images: RNN Group

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News: Rotherham's new market and library to benefit from solar panel push

Great British Energy, the government’s publicly-owned clean energy company, has awarded mayoral authorities a share of £10m in grant funding to roll out clean energy projects at the centre of communities, with a major Rotherham regeneration project set to benefit.

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is set to establish the Mayoral Renewables Fund Grant Scheme following a request for £572,025.

The government’s clean energy superpower mission will protect billpayers, create jobs and bring greater energy security through delivering clean power by 2030. Great British Energy will accelerate this by developing, investing and building clean energy projects across the UK.

Great British Energy is already cutting energy bills for public services, with solar panels already installed on 11 schools as part of plans to roll out the panels on around 200 schools and 200 hospitals in England.

Seven new projects in Doncaster and Rotherham have been identified for solar panels.

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Last month Rotherham Council took the decision to utilise £350,000 of its own capital decarbonisation budget to maximise the solar photovoltaics (PV) on the town centre markets and library rooftops.

Construction is well underway on the £40.89m project which is due to be completed in 2027.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard, said: “The Rotherham Outdoor Market scheme is a brilliant example of how innovation can power local adaptation and resilience. By reducing emissions and energy costs, we’re supporting the stallholders who are the beating heart of the market - helping them grow in the face of rising energy prices and making the market more attractive for both traders and shoppers."

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: "Our plans will mean more money can be spent on the services that make working people better off and help strengthen the ties that bind us in our communities.

"This is what Great British Energy is all about - taking back control to deliver lower bills for good."

The Rotherham town centre development will include a refurbished indoor market and a modern and accessible central library, along with a new community hub and extensive public realm and improved links to the town centre and college. The renovations will build upon the existing mix of shops and services with the addition of a new food hub and dining area on the first floor.

The outdoor market will become a flexible space which can be used for exhibitions and events when required. The second floor will incorporate contemporary office spaces for charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups.

Images: RMBC

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News: Maltby Solar Park plans submitted

Plans have come forward for another solar farm near Rotherham, an area where plans for the much larger Whitestone development cast a large shadow.

Infinis Solar Developments Ltd has submitted a planning application to construct a solar energy park at Holme Hall Quarry, Maltby Colliery.

Infinis is the UK’s leading generator of low carbon power from captured methane, capturing the gas from landfill sites and abandoned mines and convert it to electricity.

Although called Maltby Solar Park, the application site boundary covers approximately 17.76ha at Stainton, and crosses two local planning authority boundaries; Rotherham and Doncaster. The above ground development will solely be within Doncaster, the only development within Rotherham area will be underground cabling to the existing grid connection at Maltby Colliery.

The site forms part of the green belt and has been used for colliery spoil and is now capped off as part of a restoration scheme.

The plans for the solar park would involve 14.4ha of solar PV panels mounted on metal framework up to 3m high in rows and also inlcudes a battery energy storage system (BESS). It would be in operation for a period of up to 40 years.

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Applicants say that the site is "grey belt land" and that their approach is to develop on brownfield land that ensures other greenfield local spaces and agricultural land are retained.

ICP consultants for the applicant add that: "The proposed development reuses a previously disturbed site associated with Maltby Colliery and will operate for 40 years."

Some mitigation measures are included - 1.2ha new native tree and shrub planting, 770m new hedgerow, with retained woodland and scrub and 831m of enhanced native hedgerow for landscape mitigation and biodiversity.

Plans have recently been submitted for Thurcroft Interchange Energy Park with plans also being put together for a 25 MVA solar farm west of Firsby Lane between Hooton Roberts and Conisbrough.

Rothbiz has previously reported on Whitestone Solar Farm, which if constructed, would generate up to 750MW of energy, enough to power up to 250,000 homes. It would be the largest solar farm in Yorkshire and one of the largest in the UK.

Infinis website

Images: 3i / infinis

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News: Exagen submit plans for Rotherham solar farm

A planning application has been submitted for another solar farm on greenbelt land in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported in March on Thurcroft Interchange Energy Park. and has previously reported on Whitestone Solar Farm, which if constructed, would generate up to 750MW of energy, enough to power up to 250,000 homes. It would be the largest solar farm in Yorkshire and one of the largest in the UK.

Applicants Exagen Group have set out plans for a 49.9MW solar farm with a co-located 50MW battery energy storage system (BESS) and substation on farmland between Wickersley and Morthen close to the M1/M18 interchange. The yearly output of the solar generation is predicted to equate to the electricity use of approximately 20,370 average UK homes per year.

Plans show three parcels of land totalling 103 hectares accomodating some 97,000 solar modules with a 40-year operational period and applicants say that any planning permission would be temporary and that there would be "no temporary or permanent loss of agricultural land" as the site will remain in active agricultural use, such as sheep grazing and arable cultivation.

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Plans state that the solar farm would result in a multipurpose use throughout the development’s lifetime - "simultaneously supporting agricultural activities, generating clean renewable energy, and delivering substantial biodiversity enhancements. At the end of the 40-year operational period, the land will be restored to its current land use and as a result there would be no loss of agricultural land.

"Over its 40-year lifespan, the solar farm will improve soil health by reducing erosion, restoring nutrients, and enhancing biodiversity. After decommissioning, the land will revert to full agricultural use, ensuring long-term benefits for farming and soil quality."

Landscaping and biodiversity enhancement is also included in the plans.

The application has already attracted a number of objections.

Jake Richards, Rother Valley MP, said: "While I fully support the Government's mission to expand clean, homegrown energy, including through solar generation, developments of this nature must be located and planned responsibly. This application cannot and should not be considered in isolation from the much larger Whitestone Solar Farm proposal.

"Whitestone is a nationally significant infrastructure project expected to span approximately 3,500 acres and generate 750 MW. Crucially, the site of this Thurcroft application falls within the wider area earmarked for Whitestone. It is unreasonable and misleading to assess the Thurcroft proposal as a standalone development."

Regarding Whitestone, Exagen say: "The application for a Development Consent Order not due to be submitted to the Secretary of State until summer 2026. At this stage, there is no confirmed site layout, design detail, or certainty regarding delivery. As such, the proposal is too speculative to be meaningfully assessed alongside the Thurcroft Interchange Energy Park."

Exagen website

Images: Exagen

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News: Future of UK glass manufacturing at risk under penalising new government scheme

A new scheme that seeks to make those who put packaging on the market responsible for its entire lifecycle, is expected to damage the future prospects of one of Rotherham's oldest manufacturers.

The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme is designed to hold packaging producers responsible for recycling costs and ensure that product design incorporates considerations for disposal and recycling.

Representatives of the UK glass industry argue that the scheme favours lighter, less recyclable packaging.

Beatson Clark, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, recently raised this issue again in parliament. She said: "I am immensely proud to have Beatson Clark in my constituency, which has been manufacturing glass in Rotherham for more than 270 years. It is a key local employer, and the only remaining independent UK-owned glass container manufacturer. It is also the only company in the UK that still produces amber pharmaceutical glass. After adding in the supply chain, more than 2,000 people are dependent on Beatson Clark for their livelihood.

"Glass manufacture is energy-intensive, but with electric and hybrid furnaces and readily available technology there is no reason why glass cannot be a net zero product in the not too distant future, especially with Government support with infrastructure and electricity costs, as per the Climate Change Committee’s recommendations. Yet, because of the Government’s dogged decision to press ahead with extended producer responsibility, initiated by the previous Administration, we instead face the decimation of our domestic glass industry.

"Job losses and the closure of sites are literally just around the corner. That is not the industry overreacting. British Glass has already received warnings from more than one beer and cider manufacturer that there is no future for glass in this country due to the EPR policy. EPR follows hot on the heels of a challenging few years for UK glass manufacturing. The energy crisis, increased costs and a reduction in trade tariffs from 6% to 0% since leaving the EU have made cheaper imported glass so much more attractive."

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The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) recently published per-tonne fees to be introduced in the EPR scheme.

Trade body, British Glass, warns that despite glass making up only 5% of collected packaging by volume, it will bare around one-third of total costs. This means the per-unit impact on glass – which is how brands and retailers buy products – is estimated to be 3 to 5 times higher than competing materials – meanwhile - competing beverage packaging (polyethylene terephthalate (PET), aluminium and steel) will face no costs due to inclusion in a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) until late 2027.

Beatson Clark explains that glass is 100% recyclable forever, and it can be melted down repeatedly to create new bottles without any loss of quality or integrity. Amber glass containers manufactured by Beatson Clark contain 56% post-consumer recycled material on average, while the figure for white flint is 36%. Any waste glass created during the manufacturing process is also recycled back into the furnace, so there is zero waste and even lower use of raw materials.

The manufacturer, which has invested millions of pounds in its Greasbrough Road facility in recent years, processes around 44,000 tonnes of waste glass recovered from kerbside collections, bottle banks and the hospitality trade on site.

Beatson Clark website

Images: Beatson Clark

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News: Industry and nature grow together at AESSEAL in Rotherham

Nature has moved in alongside industry on a Rotherham factory site which now operates without the use of any natural gas.

A one-kilometre Tree Walk now sits within the ten-acre grounds of the AESSEAL engineering base and will be open to schools for pre-booked trips.

The company, which has pledged to invest £29m by 2029 on environmental initiatives, has decommissioned the last of its natural gas-fired heating systems at its Templeborough site.

Last month AESSEAL invited its first official visitors to the walk, which was opened by Rotherham United chairman Tony Stewart and attended by 28 children from St Bede’s Catholic Primary School in Kimberworth, as well as representatives from the Millers, youth sports clubs, business and education, Rotherham Titans rugby club and Olympic Games silver medallist Peter Elliott.

The youngsters may have been unaware of the company’s wider commitment to ensuring their planet has a future but enjoyed a treasure hunt and witnessed the bug hotels, a pond, meadows and woodlands, a wide variety of trees, a hedgehog crossing and hives for 60,000 bees, which are all accompanied by interactive information and facts available by scanning QR codes.

Early doors visitors have included a kingfisher, a fox and her cubs, and a great tit, who recently hatched six chicks in a bird box installed on the trail, the development of which was tracked through a wildlife camera.

Thirty years ago, the site was little more than unused wetlands and fields of mud, with sparse shoots of grass – and that was after reclamation had prepared the site for industrial development.

The area needed business to create gainful employment, but industry tends to grab nature’s home. The make-up of the area, and the world in general, was changing. Someone had to set an example and look to the long-term future.

AESSEAL managing director and founder Chris Rea said that around 25 years ago William Hague – prior to becoming leader of the Conservative Party – was one of the company’s three board members and asked questions about what could be done with regard to the environment as the area was developed for industry.

The original suggestion was to build a pond within the developing site but, like the company, the project grew beyond recognition.

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The scene now is very different. AESSEAL’s Factory for the Future, which contains 175,000 sq ft.of new buildings, stands proudly on the land – and alongside it runs the walk.

What may have once been viewed as a contrast serves as a visible, tangible example of how industry and nature can grow together and live with each other to provide the planet with a chance of long-term survival.

Mr Rea said: “It's something that has been created over a long period, and we've just enhanced it and developed it and planted more and more trees and added more attractions like wildlife sculptures, the seal family, brass etching stations, wildlife and plant life boards, as well as providing a home for rescue hedgehogs and bees. Add to that a treasure hunt and we have a fun and educational amenity aimed at primary school children.”

Prior to its official opening staff have been using the facilities – including a picnic and meeting area – which have cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to create and develop. It’s a relaxing, peaceful place to sit and enjoy lunch or to take in the fresh air.

Mr Rea says: “Some people really love it and come out every day. We even have colleagues who come in the depths of winter and put warm clothes on and go and sit at one of the benches, play chess or have their flask of coffee. People like it.

“I think most companies fail to understand that the soft issues, how people feel, their mood, their morale and motivation is just as important as monetary matters. People want to work with nice people, they want to feel that the company they are with is doing more good than bad. The value of high levels of motivation is immeasurable but provides tangible results.”

Mr Rea hopes the company’s work will persuade others to follow its example and adds: “If you pursue excellence, there’s nothing excellent about destroying the environment. There’s nothing excellent about not being a good corporate citizen. There’s nothing excellent about not doing what you can do to continuously improve things. It’s just what we do.” Chris ensures the company is as good as his word.

Replacing old cladding and roofing with new materials has now resulted in the thermal energy balance being sufficient for the site to utilise as much power as possible from the building’s 3,000 solar panels and 2.2MW of batteries.

This means the gas supply will be decommissioned by the utility company in the next few months and there will not even be a supply left on the site.

AESSEAL website

Images: AESSEAL

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News: Rolls-Royce SMR selection "good news for Rotherham" says MP

Sarah Champion, Member of Parliament for Rotherham, has welcomed the announcement that Rolls-Royce SMR has been named as the selected technology in the Great British Nuclear (GBN) small modular reactor (SMR) competition.

SMRs promise to be much more affordable in the UK than the large scale reactors planned for projects like Hinkley Point C, which has struggled to secure investors and has strike prices inflated by the expense of financing the multi billion pound project.

The UK’s next generation of nuclear power stations will be designed and built by a British company, creating thousands of jobs, boosting the supply chain and creating growth for the economy.

In Rotherham, the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC), has been working for over a decade to support the development of SMRs in the UK. With the Nuclear AMRC now subsumed by the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), the work continues.

In partnership with Rolls-Royce, a Module Development Facility is being housed within the AMRC’s flagship Factory 2050 building in Sheffield, that will produce working prototypes of the individual modules that will be assembled into Rolls-Royce SMR power plants. The first phase is worth £2.7m and will be part of a wider £15m+ package.

Rolls-Royce SMR has been selected by GBN to build three SMR units in the UK. The decision is expected to help the business retain its crucial first mover advantage in a market that is growing and attracting significant international interest.



Rolls-Royce SMR Chief Executive, Chris Cholerton, said: “This is a day to celebrate a milestone achievement. This success is testament to our incredible team which has developed a world-leading technology and worked tirelessly over the last two years to ensure we could provide a winning tender to GBN.

“As well as delivering affordable, clean energy to support our nation’s energy independence – deploying three of our units will drive domestic growth by creating thousands of highly skilled, well-paid jobs and supply chain opportunities. We are the only SMR company with multiple commitments to build projects in Europe, testament to our differentiated design and compelling offer."

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Ben Morgan, interim chief executive officer at the University of Sheffield AMRC, added: “This is a truly fantastic outcome, representing a powerful signal to the world that our nation is committed to a clean, secure energy future and shows global investors that Britain is building and providing a massive opportunity for manufacturers and for those seeking high-skilled jobs.

“The AMRC, which is part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, has been actively working with Rolls-Royce SMR for many years to solve the complex manufacturing challenges central to their SMR design.

“Rolls-Royce SMR’s selection is a brilliant illustration of how strategic innovation, collaborative research and a shared vision can not only accelerate technological development but also unlock monumental industrial opportunities for the UK. The AMRC is proud to be at the heart of this industrial renaissance with Rolls-Royce SMR.”

Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, said that it was "excellent news" that is "set to directly benefit Rotherham and the research facilities at our Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre."

She added: "Rolls Royce’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR), has been selected to deliver the UK's first ever SMRs in a new era of nuclear power. There is also investment in our world leading fusion, with research taking place in Rotherham’s UK Atomic Energy Authority.

"Today’s announced Rolls Royce project alone could support up to 3,000 jobs at peak construction and power the equivalent of around 3 million of today’s homes.

"Rotherham, and the talent, expertise and creativity we can provide, is now established on the international stage."

Whilst research and development continues, Rolls-Royce has yet to decide on where the modules will be built. The modular approach is unique within the nuclear industry but is widely used and well proven across the oil and gas and renewables sectors.

In 2022, Rolls-Royce announced a shortlist of locations for the first of three factories. South Yorkshire was not on the this list for a factory that would manufacture the "heavy vessels" used in a SMR power station, The other two factories will manufacture civils modules and mechanical electrical and plumbing (MEP) modules – which will be transported to sites and assembled into a nuclear power station that will generate 470MW of low-carbon electricity.

Rolls-Royce was progressing plans for a new Rotherham factory in 2012 that would manufacture and assemble power vessels for the next generation of nuclear power stations. "Project PoWer" was due to create hundreds of jobs alongside its £110m turbine casting facility on the AMP but delays in the large scale nuclear sector means that the remaining land bought by Rolls-Royce remains undeveloped.

Rolls-Royce SMR website
AMRC website

Images: Rolls-Royce / Google Maps

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