UK developer Low Carbon opens consultation on 500-MW solar/storage project in Lincolnshire

UK renewable energy developer Low Carbon is consulting on early-stage proposals to build a 500-MW solar and energy storage park on land near Gate Burton, Lincolnshire, it said Jan. 11.

First announced in October, the project needs a Development Consent Order and approval by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, a process that could take between two and three years. Subject to achieving consent, construction could start around 2024, Low Carbon said.

"The completed scheme has the potential to generate...enough clean energy to power over 160,000 homes and avoid more than 100,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year," Low Carbon said in a statement.

The average UK household consumes 3,000 kWh/year, so the plant is expected to produce around 480 GWh/year.

UK Allowance futures contracts for December 2022 delivery on the ICE Futures Europe exchange were quoted at GBP73.75/mt at the close Jan. 10, and were seen trading in a range of GBP72.00/mt to GBP74.00/mt intra-day Jan. 11.

At 500 MW, Gate Burton would be the largest hybrid solar/storage project to proceed in the UK.

In May 2002 the 350-MW Cleve Hill Solar Park in Kent was granted consent by then-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Alok Sharma.

This project is forecast to generate around 264 GWh/year.

As of end-November 2021 the UK had 13,634 MW of installed solar capacity across 1.12 million installations, up just 1.6% (210 MW) since November 2020, according to BEIS.

GB solar renewable capture prices have risen from GBP61.06/MWh on Jan. 5, 2021 to GBP177.20/MWh Jan. 5, 2022, Platts data showed.