Cottam Solar Project consent reinforces UK renewables drive

Gareth Phillips and Claire Brodrick of Pinsent Masons were commenting after the Cottam Solar Project was granted a development consent order by energy secretary Ed Miliband on Thursday. It is the seventh major solar farm project to receive development consent from UK government ministers and will span an area that covers land in the counties of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire in England.

The developers behind the Cottam Solar Project, Island Green Power, intend to tap into the existing grid connection point at the now-decommissioned coal powered Cottam Power Station to supply energy generated from solar arrays to the grid. They estimate that around 30% of the former generation capacity the coal power station provided will be replaced when the project is operational – and that this will supply enough clean energy to power 180,000 homes. A further 600MW of energy storage capacity will also be delivered as part of the project.

Pinsent Masons has supported Island Green Power on the project and advised on the application for development consent in this case.

Gareth Phillips of Pinsent Masons said: “For Labour to meet its election commitment to decarbonise the UK’s energy grid by 2030, more renewable energy projects like this need to be supported. Ramping up infrastructure approvals and making strides into developing the UK’s renewable energy infrastructure are vital to the country's energy transition agenda. This approval is a clear indication to the market that meeting the transition goal is a priority for the government and that these projects are open to investment.”

The Cottam Solar Project is the fourth solar project to receive development consent under the consenting regime applicable to ‘nationally significant infrastructure projects’ (NSIPs) since Labour won the UK general election in July. That same month, Miliband granted development consent for three other major new solar farm projects in England – Sunnica Energy Farm, Mallard Pass Solar Farm, and Gate Burton Energy Park. Pinsent Masons has advised on each of those projects.

“Solar and other renewable sources of energy are only going to become more important for the UK’s future and it is encouraging to see the government taking action,” said Claire Brodrick, also of Pinsent Masons. “Between the news today and the three solar developments given consent in July, the industry will welcome the pace at which the government is reviewing major renewable energy infrastructure approvals.”

Island Green Power has filed a separate application for development consent for another major solar farm in Lincolnshire. Its West Burton Solar Project, like the Cottam Solar Project, would seek to make use of existing grid infrastructure from an old coal power station. A decision on the application in that case is due to be made on 8 November.