UKÂ’s first commercial solar farm approved
The plant will have a generating capacity of 1.8 megawatts MW, enough to power about 800 homes, and is among the first of a new wave of solar projects expected to go ahead in the southwest region of the UK this year.
The Benbole Energy Farm will be located on a 10-acre site near St. Kew and will be constructed by Silicon Vineyard, a joint venture company owned by Renewable Energy Consortium and the University of Exeter College Enterprises. It is the first of a planned rollout of 14 solar energy farms across Cornwall and the UK worth an estimated 53.1 million euros US $69 million.
Construction on the Benbole farm is expected to get under way this month, and the plant could be producing power as early as April. About 800 panels will be erected at about 2.5 metres above the ground to help reduce its visual impact.
"Securing planning approval for the development has taken a little longer than we anticipated, but we are doing something completely unique in the region," said Silicon Vineyard Programme Director Shane Bond speaking recently about the Benbole project. "We are setting the benchmark for similar applications, so getting it right is really important."
He added: "At Silicon Vineyard we are committed to building a viable and sustainable commercial solar energy industry in the UK. As the UK market leaders, we have a responsibility to ensure our designs and plans for development of solar PV farms are of the highest standards."
Last September, the UK's first solar park was given the green light for construction at a disused tin mine in Cornwall. The 1.55-MW plant will be built by solar developer 35 Degrees and will have 5,700 solar panels mounted on 2-metre frames that will generate 1.25 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough for about 300 homes.
In November, Eco Sustainable Solutions revealed plans to build a larger 5-MW solar farm in the Dorset region of southwest England. The Parley Solar Farm will utilize 30,000 solar panels to generate enough energy to meet the electricity needs of 1,100 homes. Also in November, German solar power company juwi Group announced plans to build a network of more than 60 MW of solar farms in south of the UK.
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Modular nuclear reactors a 'long shot' worth studying, says Yukon gov't
WHITEHORSE - The Yukon government is looking for ways to reduce the territory's emissions, and wondering if nuclear power is one way to go.
The territory is undertaking a feasibility study, to determine whether there's a future for SMRs — small modular reactors — as a low-emissions alternative to things such as diesel power.
The idea, said John Streicker, Yukon's minister of energy, mines and resources, is to bring the SMRs into the Yukon to generate electricity.
"Even the micro ones, you could consider in our remote communities or wherever you've got a point load of energy demand," Streicker said. "Especially electricity demand."
SMRs…
