A solar farm comprises a series of solar panels on pole mounted tables that form solar arrays. Additional equipment such as transformers, inverters, fencing, and a small substation, etc. would also be installed in order to connect the solar farm into the local electricity grid.

Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, which is then exported directly into the electricity network. In order to maximise electricity production, the panels will be arranged in a southerly direction, and will be tilted at an angle to maximise the energy collected from sunlight.

We are in a climate and ecological emergency!

As we transition to a Net Zero economy, electricity demand is forecast to increase three-fold due to the move away from fossil-fuel-based heating and transport. Solar power is proven to be the cheapest form of new electricity generation available which helps to reduce energy prices for everyone.

As well as generating clean, renewable energy, this solar farm will enrich local biodiversity, continue the use of agriculture via sheep grazing and restore the soil to an even better condition than during its previous use under intensive farming, after the solar farm has been decommissioned.

Solar farms are very quiet. It is only the inverters which make a slight noise and they only do so during operational hours (when it is sunny) so do not make any noise at night. This noise at a 10m distance can be comparable to an air conditioning unit and usually dissipates entirely after around 100m.

Solar panels are designed to absorb light rather than reflect it. Any glare is minimised through using translucent coating materials to improve light transmittance through glass. In fact, grass produces more glare than a PV array.

No - solar is a passive technology which doesn’t produce any harmful by-products. All electrical equipment we use meets the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive and is CE marked.

After the solar farm is built, which usually takes 4-6 months, there is very little maintenance and therefore vehicular activity is minimal. A traffic management plan will be produced for the construction of the solar farm and a contact number will be made available for local residents to call should they have any issues

A typical rural deer fence is used for security. Small openings in the fence allow small mammals including badgers to enter the site. The location of these will be determined by an ecologist where the most commonly used animal tracks are found. Deer and larger mammals are excluded as due to their size they could damage themselves and the infrastructure

Analysis by the Solar Trade Association suggests that a 50MW solar farm would provide 15 full time jobs equivalent through the supply chain. Locally there will be job opportunities during construction and also contractors from outside the area will use local facilities such as shops, cafes etc. We welcome local contractors to get in touch for services such as security, traffic management, landscaping and maintenance.

The solar panels are comprised of glass, silica, aluminium, steel, copper and plastic which are largely recyclable with a good salvage value. Approximately 96-99% of the solar panel can be recycled.

For a 49.9MW site it would take approximately 1.1 years to pay off the energy debt from the manufacturing process. There are several academic studies which show this.

No. A flood risk assessment is carried out as part of our assessments. The panels have small gaps in between to allow the rain water to drip through, dispersing the surface water run off more evenly. A well managed and healthy grass sward beneath the panels allows the water to be absorbed into the ground. Swales may also be included to help alleviate any existing surface water.

We, members of the UK solar energy industry, condemn and oppose any abuse of human rights, including forced labour, anywhere in the global supply chain. We support applying the highest possible levels of transparency and sustainability throughout the value chain, and commit to the development of an industry-led traceability protocol to help to ensure our supply chain is free of human rights abuses.

The costs of solar power have fallen sharply and it is now the cheapest form of new electricity generation both globally and in the UK. Therefore, solar contributes overall to a lowering of power prices across the country. It is not yet possible for local sales of electricity direct from solar farms, although there is legislation going through parliament at the moment that may make this possible in future.

We offer a voluntary community benefit fund to be spent locally on environmental and social projects. We are also offering an educational fund for local school visits in the UK and workshops to inspire the younger generation.

Another benefit is the increase in biodiversity - many councils have declared ecological emergencies and solar farms have the ability to enhance biodiversity and allow wildlife to flourish.

No - only emergency lighting at the substation compound which will only be used in case of emergencies (likely less than once a year).

The lifespan of a solar farm depends on the make, model and warranty of the components, as well as the situation of the development. Lightsource bp solar farms generally have a lifespan of 20-40 years.

Solar energy generation relies on daylight, rather than sunlight, so even on a grey day panels will generate electricity, though not nearly as much as they do in full sunshine!

Solar energy is measured, like electricity, in watts, kilowatts (KW), megawatts (MW) and gigawatts (GW).

PV stands for photovoltaic - the conversion of light into electricity using semi-conducting materials. Solar PV is a phrase often used in the industry to differentiate between solar photovoltaics and solar thermals.

Silicon is the largest component on a solar farm, forming both the photovoltaic cells and the anti-reflective glass which protects them. To make the cells, sand is melted using electricity. It is then purified and distilled, formed into ‘wafers’ and given an anti-reflective silicon nitride coating to maximise light absorption. The horizontal and vertical lines across the panels are screen-printed silver conductors. They conduct the electricity produced by the silicon cells to the cabling. The panels are fixed onto an aluminium framework which quickly dulls to a non-shiny finish. The framework has galvanised screwed-in foundations, it is quick to install, very strong and can be removed easily to allow the ground to be fully restored once the plant is decommissioned.

Each solar panel is made up of cells, which convert the light energy from daylight into electrical energy. Daylight from the sun hits a negatively doped silicon layer which ‘excites’ electrons, effectively ‘removing’ them from their atoms. This creates a potential difference between the two layers of silicon and stimulates a flow of electrons. The flow generates Direct Current (DC) electricity.

No. Theoretically, as the land will likely have seen a reduction in farming or grazing over the past several decades, the quality of the land is likely to have improved. There may be an element of temporary disruption to the land after construction and following decommissioning, particularly if the works take place during winter/a wet season, but our carefully selected contractors are required to return the land to original state, reseeding, rolling, making good any damage etc.

We’re committed to restoring the land to its original state, so at the end of a solar lease, if no further projects have been negotiated, we’ll remove all equipment and make good any disruption caused by the decommissioning process. In some cases, equipment that has been adopted by the local network operator for the grid connection may stay on site depending on the specific agreements.

You will always have the right to sell your land under a Lightsource bp lease, as the agreement will simply pass to the new owner along with the land. The buyer will need to consent to the terms of the lease prior to sale.

This varies depending on jurisdiction and type of contract, but a standard range is from 25 to 40 years.

Yes, solar farms can be designed to be compatible with grazing small livestock such as sheep, chickens and geese.

Once the lease is executed, and construction begins, rent is paid upfront until the next quarter, and from then on is paid quarterly for the life of the project.

Lightsource bp handles everything in house, so you will have one point of contact with means quicker development and a long-standing relationship. As all our projects are fully funded, we offer shorter development timeframes and a high chance of project success. Our track record speaks for itself, as we’ve already developed 2.6GW of solar worldwide.

The criteria for solar land varies from place to place, but generally speaking an ideal site would be: square or regular shape, in one single area rather than multiple fields; have a wide, well-established access; unshaded; flat or just gently sloped; not within flood zones or restricted areas; well screened from roads or settlements, by vegetation or topography; no shallow bedrock or clay soils; and close to a point of connection to the local grid.