Above: Mock-up of the proposed Mapperton Solar Farm
Dorset Energized are thrilled to announce that 1 of 3 proposed solar farms by Good Energy here in Dorset has now officially been approved.
The proposed 28MW solar farm is situated near the hamlet of Mapperton, north of the A31 and west of Sturminster Marshall, East Dorset.
The site has been carefully selected for minimal visual impact on the surrounding landscape. It’s very well-screened by existing woodland and native hedgerows, which will be enhanced where required, and by the land itself.
As well as generating enough renewable electricity to power around 6,826 homes, the proposed solar farm would:
- include the creation of new wildflower meadows, which would improve the habitat for pollenating insects and provide a wildlife haven in this predominantly agricultural landscape;
- provide a new outdoor space in which local school children can learn about energy, wildlife and the environment;
- provide a community fund to support local projects worth a minimum of £25,000 per year for the life of the solar farm, of which £5,000 per year would be specifically for the hamlet of Mapperton; and
- include the installation of solar PV systems at Sturminster Marshall First School and the Memorial Hall.
As we reported back in the Summer, only 1% of Dorset’s total energy demand comes from renewables which is a third of the UK national average so to play our part in meeting national renewable energy targets, generation needs to increase by over 15 times in just 8 years. As Dorset also has the highest number of sun hours in the country, solar is an obvious and exciting solution for Dorset!
Read our previous related blog posts on Good Energy’s solar farm plans here:
www.letsgetenergized.co.uk/archives/2013/09/25/meet-the-good-people-bringing-good-energy-to-dorset
and www.letsgetenergized.co.uk/archives/2013/08/29/good-energy-plans-for-3-new-solar-farms-in-dorset
You can also read the full plans for Mapperton here: www.goodenergy.co.uk/dorsetsolar/mapperton-farm
Good Energy were the UK’s first 100% renewable electricity suppliers and are the owner of Delabole Wind Farm, which was the UK’s first commercial wind farm. It has targeted the development of 110MW of capacity of new renewable electricity generation assets by 2016. They work with a community of over 55,000 small and medium scale renewable electricity generators, and Good Energy Group plc has now announced the sale of the 12.8MW solar farm in Dorset. The transaction is part of Good Energy’s strategy to develop its portfolio through a combination of selling some sites and building and holding others.
Juliet Davenport, OBE, Founder and CEO of Good Energy commented:
“This transaction is part of an overall strategy to develop and build out our own renewable energy plant. It supports our long term vision for the company to own and generate 50% of our renewables supply.”