EDF Renewables UK updates solar farm plan after public feedback

EDF Renewables UK is updating its plans for a solar farm near Redcar, taking account of feedback from a thorough consultation with local people.

The renewable energy company began seeking community views in March 2022 after announcing its plans to install a solar farm as part of its wider Tees Green Hydrogen project. Thanks to the feedback of local people the plan will now include increasing the buffer area between the site and nearby Yearby village. Other modifications to the plan include:

• The exclusion of the most southern field to increase the distance between the development and nearby dwellings, and maintaining sufficient open space to preserve natural habitats.

• The permissive bridleway around the edge of the site will be enhanced with leafy lanes for users.

• Additional landscaping works around the crematorium boundary to include hedgerows and interspersed trees.

• Other landscaping enhancements will include hedgerow planting, wildflower planting and tree planting.

• No development will be situated on the airstrip and no panels will be located immediately after the airstrip.

Katie Emmitt, project development manager at EDF Renewables UK, said: “We are very grateful for the feedback received earlier this year from everyone who came down during our in-person consultation exhibition and to those who contributed online or by posting their responses.

“We were pleased to receive a considerable amount of positive feedback for the scheme, and have tried to reflect suggestions from the community, where possible.”

If approved, Tees Solar Farm could generate up to 49.9 MW of electricity, which is enough to save approximately 21,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The energy created will be used to power Tees Green Hydrogen, helping to create and protect local jobs as well as reducing emissions and pollution.

Tees Green Hydrogen will be a pioneering project, using the green electricity from nearby Teesside Offshore Wind Farm alongside that generated by Tees Solar Farm to power its hydrogen electrolyser. The project will supply local business customers, such as PD Ports and British Steel, with hydrogen to support decarbonisation efforts and a significant reduction in industrial pollution.