RWE is to launch its solar business into the UK and has secured a capacity agreement with National Grid for a solar farm of capacity up to 600MW which could be operational by 2029. It said it has started early planning for the project, Tween Bridge Solar Farm, on land to the east of Thorne in south Yorkshire and north Lincolnshire.
The project would be located next to RWE’s existing Tween Bridge onshore wind farm so no additional overhead power lines or other network infrastructure would be required. Once constructed, the land would simultaneously host solar power, battery storage and onshore wind. It would include animal husbandry with a large sheep farm and a bee farm on the site.
Katja Wünschel, CEO Onshore Wind and Solar Europe & Australia of RWE Renewables commented, ”Solar in combination with battery storage fits well into RWE’s UK development portfolio, where we already generate 15% of the country’s energy needs. Our strategy is geared towards sustainability and the vigorous expansion of large scale solar will be part of these ambitions.”
RWE’s presence in south Yorkshire and north Lincolnshire includes onshore wind farms at Goole Fields and Tween Bridge, plus offshore wind farms the Humber Gateway and Triton Knoll. In addition, the company is developing the Grimsby Hub, an expanded operations and maintenance base providing specialist services to its offshore fleet.
RWE will now undertake detailed environmental surveys following the submission of the project’s environmental scoping report to the Planning Inspectorate. Early discussions are also under way with landowners and planning authorities in order to inform the design and layout of the site.
Informal consultation is expected during spring 2023.