Rookery Farm

Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage System

Bluefield Renewable Developments Ltd has submitted a planning application to Huntingdonshire District Council for a Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on land at Rookery Farm, Stow Road, Stow Longa, Huntingdonshire, PE28 0TR. The planning application has been validated and the planning reference is 24/00883/FUL.

The project would have a solar capacity of 49.9MW along with a Battery Storage Facility, with the proposed development creating enough renewable energy to meet the annual electricity demands of approximately 13,000 homes. It would also offset approximately 8,700 tonnes of CO2 each year, the equivalent of taking around 5,500 cars off the road.

Powering Huntingdonshire’s Future

Where is the proposed Rookery Farm Solar Farm and BESS?

  • It will assist Huntingdonshire District Council in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with local and national targets in response to the Climate Emergency

  • It will contribute towards the security of energy supply in Huntingdonshire through the provision of local, renewable electricity and battery storage.

  • Careful consideration has been given to the development to avoid effects on landscape, heritage or ecological designations.

  • A community fund will be established to invest in local projects and initiatives.

Benefits of Rookery Farm Solar Farm and BESS

  • It will have a significant positive net biodiversity impact with the retention of existing hedgerows and trees which will strengthen existing ecological networks.

  • This is a temporary development, allowing the land to rest for a period of operation up to 40 years.

  • Decommissioning and full restoration of the site at the end of life of the development will be secured via planning condition

  • The proposed solar farm and BESS will not require Government subsidy

Thank you to everyone who attended our public consultation event on Friday 9th February 2024.

The exhibition boards that were presented at the event can be found in the download section at the bottom of the page.

Public Consultation Event

Key Statistics

Homes powered every year

13,000

tonnes of CO2 offset every year

8,700

6-9

months estimated construction period

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We urgently need to generate energy from new, low cost, low carbon sources and solar is the lowest cost and quickest to deploy of all energy sources. It is currently one-ninth the cost of gas and less than one third of the cost of nuclear.

    Solar is already making a difference, for example between June and August in 2023, solar often provided up to 25% of UK daytime electricity (National Grid ESO carbon app). The Government’s new strategy Powering Up Britain – Delivering Energy Security and Net Zero (March 2023) has set a target for a fivefold increase in solar by 2035, up to 70GW, enough to power around 20 million homes. This can only be achieved by deploying solar on both land and buildings.

    Battery storage technologies are crucial in helping to integrate renewable energy generation, such as solar power, into the existing grid network.

  • For our solar farm and battery projects we require a nearby grid connection, a well-screened site that is consistent with planning policy and supportive landowners. Rookery Farm Solar Farm offers all of these features.

  • The solar farm and BESS is a temporary development and will not change the land classification from agricultural greenfield to commercial/industrial brownfield.  

    When the project has been decommissioned, the planning consent will require the land be restored to its previous purpose.

  • Large-scale battery installations in the UK must comply with health and safety regulations, both for installation and operation.

    All BESS containers have built in monitoring and control systems which can shut systems down remotely in the event of a fault.  Fire suppression equipment is also fitted to each BESS container which is triggered automatically in the event of emergency.

    The battery enclosures are specifically engineered to guarantee secure operation throughout the project’s lifespan. Advanced safety measures, including continuous monitoring of individual battery cells, are in place to promptly address any potential concerns and manage operations for utmost safety.

    Battery energy storage systems are designed to adhere to stringent safety standards established by international regulatory bodies like the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). These comprehensive standards encompass various facets of battery storage systems, including installation, operation, and maintenance, to ensure their compliance with the highest safety protocols.

    Following detailed engagement with the local fire service, the planning application includes a bespoke Fire Safety Management Plan, in line with current best practice, to address the ongoing management of fire risk on site.  It also includes the Emergency Response Plan and Fire Safety Management procedures.

  • It typically takes up to 12 months to build the solar farm and battery storage system. Site working would typically be Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings only.

    A construction traffic management plan will be conditioned and subject to detailed liaison with the highways department post planning. Once the solar farm is constructed, monitoring will be carried out remotely by Bluefield, minimising visits by maintenance staff.

  • This is a new application and is separate to the existing operational Stow Longa Solar Farm. Whilst Stow Longa Solar Farm is owned and operated by Bluefield, Rookery Farm Solar Farm is a fresh application for a new solar farm and battery storage facility with a completely separate point of connection to the local electricity network.

  • Solar panels have no moving parts and emit no sound. Inverters and transformers can emit very low level sound, but these are sited away from houses and cannot be heard from more than a few metres away.

    Battery Energy Storage Systems generate some low-level noise from the electrical infrastructure onsite, although usually only audible from within a short distance.

    A full noise assessment is carried out as part of the planning application. If necessary, the assessment will recommend mitigation measures to reduce noise levels.

  • There is no evidence that solar farms and battery storage facilities have a negative impact on wildlife. 

    In fact, wildlife thrives within the sites when managed sensitively. We are committed to significant net biodiversity gain at Rookery Farm through the creation of new habitats to support local wildlife. Existing hedgerows will be strengthened, and new hedgerows will be planted to improve habitat connectivity across the site. 

    We will set aside a significant proportion of the land for Biodiversity Enhancement Areas which will provide wildflower meadows for pollinators and grassland habitats to support mammals, birds, and invertebrates. Further ecological enhancement measures such as bird boxes and bat boxes will be placed within the site to encourage those populations to prosper.

  • Bluefield will contribute funds to local community projects as part of our solar farm investment.

    Previous examples of community benefit include funding the installation of solar panels on a primary school / village hall, contribution to local recreational facilities, improving public access and local environmental schemes. Establishing a local community energy fund could also be considered.

  • The UK Food Security Report (2021) found that “the biggest medium to long term risk to the UK’s domestic production comes from climate change and other environmental pressures such as soil degradation, water quality and biodiversity”.

    Solar farms currently account for 0.08% of total land use in the UK (Solar Energy UK 2022). The Government targets for a fivefold increase in solar would result in 0.3% of the UK land area being used by solar (Carbon Brief, 2022). This is the equivalent to around half of the space used by golf courses.

Project Timeline

February 2024

Pre-Submission Consultation

Finalise Proposed Design

March 2024

Submit Planning Application

May 2024

Planning Decision

Late 2024

Operational

2028

Community Benefit Fund

Bluefield will contribute funds to local community projects as part of our solar farm investment. Previous examples of community benefit include funding the installation of solar panels on a primary school / village hall, contribution to local recreational facilities, improving public access and local environmental schemes. Establishing a local community energy fund could also be considered.

Biodiversity

We will dedicate a sizeable portion of the land to create Biodiversity Enhancement Areas, specifically designed to support our wildlife. These areas will feature wildflower meadows, perfect for pollinators, as well as grassland habitats that will provide a safe home for mammals, birds and invertebrates. We will also install bird and bat boxes throughout the site.

Climate Emergency

Huntingdonshire District Council formally recognised a Climate Crisis and Ecological Emergency in Huntingdonshire and adopted a Climate Strategy that sets out the priorities to achieve the commitment of net zero carbon council by 2040. The Council’s ‘Local Plan to 2036’ (2019) report ackowledges
that “A positive approach to renewable energy is an important part of the UK’s energy infrastructure and efforts to achieve reductions in contributing factors to climate change.”

Net Zero

In 2019, the UK became the first country in the world to declare a Climate Emergency. It has subsequently committed to reach Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050. In October 2021 the UK Government set out its Net Zero commitments and obligations in the ‘Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener’. Amongst a number of initiatives, it confirms that by 2035 all our electricity will need to come from low carbon sources.

About

The Bluefield Group is a UK-based business which develops, builds, and operates solar farms on behalf of Bluefield Solar Income Fund (BSIF). The Fund has invested nearly £1bn in solar since its foundation in 2013 and currently owns 107 UK solar projects, with an aggregate capacity of over 750 MWp. All of the Fund’s solar farms are operated and managed by The Bluefield Group, with field teams operating from regional hubs around the country. Because we own and operate the solar farms we develop, we seek to establish long-term relationships with local communities and local authorities. We aim to deliver high quality projects that generate significant renewable energy, have low visual impact, and enhance biodiversity and land management.

Downloads

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