Plans have been submitted for a new solar park in Dorset that could generate enough energy to power more than 3,500 homes.
If approved, the plans, submitted by British Solar Renewables (BSR) would see the new park built at Higher Wraxall, near Dorchester in Dorset.
The park is set to span 48 acres (19 hectares) on land currently being used for arable farming.
It is estimated that the generating station would have an installed capacity of up to 14MWp for distribution to the National Grid – the equivalent to the annual electrical needs of approximately 3,551 family homes.
The plans include extra space around a Bronze Age bowl barrow leaving an offset of 20m.
Bowl barrows – inverted pudding bowl-shaped mounds – are burial monuments dating from the Late Neolithic period to the Late Bronze Age.
The farm’s panels will have an expected a lifespan of 40 years, after which time BSR said the fields could be “quickly reverted to agricultural use”.
BSR Energy says the anticipated CO2 displacement of the proposed site is around 2,968 tonnes per annum.
In a statement, BSR said: “The need for increased renewable energy is urgent and is in a context of declared national and local climate emergencies.
“The UK government has set an ambitious target of reducing emissions by 78% by 2035.
“Renewable electricity generation, including solar, will play a key role in meeting this target.”
Main image: pxl.store/Shutterstock
Read next: Modular nuclear firm Newcleo announces £900m equity raise
Are you a building professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
