How does co-located solar PV & battery storage work?
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) energy is the most promising and popular form of solar energy. It works by converting sunlight into electricity. Sunlight is made of photons which are small particles of energy. These photons are absorbed by and pass through the material of a solar cell or solar photovoltaic panel. The photons agitate the electrons found in the material of the photovoltaic cell. As they begin to move (or are dislodged), they are routed into a current. This is electricity – the movement of electrons along a path. These electrons are then conducted through a wire to the grid.
The purpose of a battery storage system is to store electricity that has been generated from the solar PV farm, so that it can be stored and then exported back to the grid at times of high demand/low generation. As the electricity that is generated from solar PV energy is subject to peaks and troughs, depending on climatic conditions, the system is able to store electricity when generation is high and then supply energy to the grid when less electricity is being generated or when there are additional or higher demands on the grid.
The UK and Scottish Governments are committed to a rapid transition towards a zero-carbon economy; a significant expansion in low carbon electricity generation is a key part of the Governments’ energy strategy. Consequences of this expansion include changes to the daily electricity demand and supply pattern, an increasingly volatile generation mix and greater issues with geographical concentration of generation. Transmission network constraints occur when network infrastructure limits the ability of the network to transmit all the available power to where it is needed.
There is a growing need for technologies that can respond quickly to balance generation and load in the system. This is to ensure grid stability and security of supply, ultimately avoiding the need for extreme demand-reduction measures, which can include blackouts.
Battery storage offers an efficient and responsive solution to actively manage grid demands by storing surplus electricity for distributing back to the grid in times of peak demand. This system caters for the inherent intermittency of renewable energy sources, helping to balance transmission requirements and Lithium-ion battery storage is currently the most suitable technology.
Benefits of co-located solar PV battery storage
Benefits of solar PV
The battery storage facility can import or export large amounts of electricity with no time lag and has the following benefits:
Solar Panels
The proposed solar farm will be made up, principally, of dark blue or black solar panels. Each panel is approximately 2 x 1m. The solar panels will be arranged in a series of rows up to a height of 3m at the highest point and tilted southwards at an angle of, typically, 10 – 25 degrees from horizontal.
Inverters
Inverters are required to convert the direct current generated by the photovoltaic modules to grid compatible alternating current (AC). There will be approximately 5 inverters on the site. The inverters are typically 7 m long x 2.5 m wide x 3 m high with a concrete base. To see photos of inverters, please visit the photos section.
Battery storage system
The proposed battery storage system will be made up, principally, 24 battery storage containers, 5 inverter/Power Control System (PCS) containers (comprising of transformer/inverters/monitoring systems), palisade and wooden fencing, parking facilities for limited maintenance vehicles and CCTV monitoring system. The battery storage containers dimensions will typically be 12.2m x 2.44m x rising to 3.1m and the PCS containers typically ranging from 7-10m x 2.2 -3m rising to 3m in height.
Grid Connection
The proposed battery storage system will require a Distribution and client-side substation to connect to the distribution network via a transformer. The proposed solar farm will require a cable easement of 0.8km to connect to the point of connection which is located just to the west of the Site.
Access track
A 4 m wide permeable access track will be installed to provide access to the compound.
Fencing
A 2.4m palisade security fence and double gates will be erected around the site for health, safety and insurance purposes.
CCTV
A series of CCTV cameras will be installed throughout the site. The CCTV arrangements are based on infrared technology so no lighting will be required at night-time.
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Our objective is always to mitigate any potential impacts on wildlife and habitats. Solar PV and battery storage system developments encourage biodiversity as they are tranquil sites that do not require heavy machinery or intensive farming for maintenance over the 40-year lifetime of the development. Existing hedgerows and vegetation are retained for the most part and additional site-specific measures will be included in a Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) for the site. These measures combined enable local flora & fauna to flourish in the surrounding area thus increasing biodiversity.
Use of Agricultural Land
The proposed site is located within agricultural farmland and is predominantly used for arable crop cultivation. Following an Agricultural Land Classification, the Site was classified as mostly grade 4 land with pockets of grade 3 and is therefore not within the best and most versatile classification for agriculture.
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The UK is undergoing a major change in the way it meets its energy needs. In 2019, the Government declared a climate emergency and legislated to commit the country to achieving ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2050 in comparison to emissions at 1990 levels. To meet these commitments, it is necessary to significantly expand renewable infrastructure and generate home grown, clean, low carbon energy to mitigate the impact of human activity on the climate and ensure the future security of the environment and generations to come.
In order to meet the 2050 emission targets, and more challenging targets set recently at the UN climate change conference COP26, the UK has a responsibility to increase the amount of renewable energy generated power it produces to move away from its dependence on fossil fuels. COP26 goal 1 outlines the need to invest in renewable energy to ensure that the target of global net-zero emissions by 2050, together with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, can be achieved.
A further commitment by the UK Government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 78% by 2035 is set out in the Sixth Carbon Budget (2021). The bar is continually rising and immediate action is needed to achieve such ambitious targets. The rising costs of energy due to demand after the COVID 19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have exacerbated the urgency of the UK’s need for energy security. The publication of the British Energy Security Strategy (2022) reaffirms the urgent need to stabilise the UK’s energy supply. The strategy states the Government expects a five-fold increase in solar energy deployment by 2035.
Powering up Britain was published by the Government in March 2023 and recognises the rising costs of energy bills and the impact on families and households. It strives for a net zero economy by 2050 and declares the aim that the UK will have among the cheapest wholesale electricity prices in Europe by 2035. The target for solar power is to quintuple the amount of solar power, up to 70GW by 2035, enough to power approximately 20 million homes. The Energy Security Plan within the document outlines the Government’s vision to potentially double Britain’s electricity generation capacity by the late 2030’s.
At a local scale, Torridge District Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 following the 2018 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which warned of the devastating consequences of a global temperature rise of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Torridge District Council is also a signatory to the Devon Climate Declaration and is a member of the Devon Climate Emergency Response Group, working with partners to create a Devon Carbon Plan, and an Adaptation Plan.
In 2018, 32% of Devon’s electricity was provided from renewable sources within the County. This is equal to just 7% of the total energy which was used in Devon over the same period. This evidences the significant gap between electricity demand and renewable energy infrastructure in the district. The Climate Change Committee recommend that electricity provided from renewable sources within the County rises to 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2050.
Estimates of renewable energy generation potential in Devon suggest that the County has suitable land available (away from sensitive and protected areas) to meet its requirements and export to other areas. Becoming a green energy powerhouse and an exporter of clean energy is an aspiration for Devon and Somerset set by the Heart of the Southwest LEP in its Blueprint for Clean Growth.
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Engaging with our host communities will be vital to the success of this carbon-saving facility. We would like to hear your views on the proposal and how it might benefit not only the wider environment but its immediate surroundings.
We would like to invite you to complete the survey provided on this website. This will help us understand your views on renewable energy and will give you a chance to suggest how the development can best be made to work for the good of the community.
A community digital consultation is ongoing via this website where you are able to make comment on the proposals directly to us via the survey provided or via email. These comments must be submitted no later than 17th August 2023
A public consultation open day will be held on Thursday the 20th of July 2023 at High Bickington Community Centre in the Pyncombe Room, between 3pm-7pm, during which team members and project specialists will be available to discuss the project.
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Site Location
Located approximately 9km east of Great Torrington and in a rural area with several small surrounding settlements, including Ebberley 2.5km west, Rodborough 3km south-west and Atherington 4km north.
Size of the Site
The red line boundary is 29 ha/ 70 acres.
Temporary Development
Planning permission is being sought for the development with an operational period of 40 years.
Site Access
The site will be accessed for construction form Meadowcroft to Natty Cross, High Bickington, south of the site.
Construction Period, Construction & Operational Traffic
During the construction period, which is estimated to take approximately 12-24 weeks, delivery vehicles and construction staff will make vehicular trips to the site. Most of the deliveries will be undertaken by HGV. It is envisaged that over the busiest construction period there will be an average of 8 HGV movements (4 arrivals and 4 departures) per day. During the 40-year operational life of the project it is envisaged that in addition to average traffic there will be, on average, 8 vehicle movements (car/van) per month related to the ongoing operation and maintenance of the installation.
Decommissioning the site
At the end of the proposed 40-year operational period, the solar PV and battery storage system and its ancillary equipment will be decommissioned, dismantled and removed and the site fully reinstated to the satisfaction of the local planning authority.
It is estimated that decommissioning of the proposed project Deptford Farm will take approximately 4 months to complete.
Subject to best practice at the time, it is anticipated that solar PV decommissioning will involve:
Subject to best practice at the time, it is anticipated that BESS decommissioning will involve:
Generating Capacity & CO2 Savings
The solar PV and battery storage system would have a capacity of approximately 30MW MIC and 30 MW MAC.
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Landscape
A full landscape appraisal will form part of the planning application. Appropriate boundary planting, together with the retention and protection of existing hedgerows would soften the boundaries of the site to assist the projects integration into the landscape. Trees will be retained as part of the development.
Noise
Each battery container and inverter station will contain a small fan that is similar to a domestic bathroom fan in both size & rating, these would be away for sensitive noise receptors and the project will be complaint with the noise limits set by the Torridge Council.
EmiNoise
No greenhouse gas emissions will be emitted by the development.
Is there an increased risk of flooding around solar PV & battery system?
There is no significant increase in surface water runoff and therefore no significant increase in the risk of flooding as little impermeable hard surfacing is required. The majority of the solar farm remains open grassland as the features are not altered in any way. The solar farm infrastructure does not affect runoff volumes, with the use of driplines along the face of panels evenly dispersing surface water across the underlying grounds. In addition, the panels are raised on a pre-fabricated framework on screw-driven legs, so only approximately 5% of the ground surface is utilised.
Use of Agricultural Land
The proposed site is located within agricultural farmland and is predominantly used for arable crop cultivation. An Agricultural Land Classification will be performed but the Site is believed to be classified as mostly Grade 3 land and is therefore not within the best and most versatile classification for agriculture.
How does a solar PV & battery storage system work?
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) energy is the most promising and popular form of solar energy. It works by converting sunlight into electricity. Sunlight is made of photons which are small particles of energy. These photons are absorbed by and pass through the material of a solar cell or solar photovoltaic panel. The photons agitate the electrons found in the material of the photovoltaic cell. As they begin to move (or are dislodged), they are routed into a current. This is electricity – the movement of electrons along a path. These electrons are then conducted through a wire to the grid.
The purpose of a battery storage system is to store electricity that has been generated from the solar PV farm, so that it can be stored and then exported back to the grid at times of high demand/low generation. As the electricity that is generated from solar PV energy is subject to peaks and troughs, depending on climatic conditions, the system is able to store electricity when generation is high and then supply energy to the grid when less electricity is being generated or when there are additional or higher demands on the grid.
The UK and Scottish Governments are committed to a rapid transition towards a zero-carbon economy; a significant expansion in low carbon electricity generation is a key part of the Governments’ energy strategy. Consequences of this expansion include changes to the daily electricity demand and supply pattern, an increasingly volatile generation mix and greater issues with geographical concentration of generation. Transmission network constraints occur when network infrastructure limits the ability of the network to transmit all the available power to where it is needed.
There is a growing need for technologies that can respond quickly to balance generation and load in the system. This is to ensure grid stability and security of supply, ultimately avoiding the need for extreme demand-reduction measures, which can include blackouts.
Battery storage offers an efficient and responsive solution to actively manage grid demands by storing surplus electricity for distributing back to the grid in times of peak demand. This system caters for the inherent intermittency of renewable energy sources, helping to balance transmission requirements and Lithium-ion battery storage is currently the most suitable technology.
CLOSE
How does co-located solar PV & battery storage work?
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) energy is the most promising and popular form of solar energy. It works by converting sunlight into electricity. Sunlight is made of photons which are small particles of energy. These photons are absorbed by and pass through the material of a solar cell or solar photovoltaic panel. The photons agitate the electrons found in the material of the photovoltaic cell. As they begin to move (or are dislodged), they are routed into a current. This is electricity – the movement of electrons along a path. These electrons are then conducted through a wire to the grid.
The purpose of a battery storage system is to store electricity that has been generated from the solar PV farm, so that it can be stored and then exported back to the grid at times of high demand/low generation. As the electricity that is generated from solar PV energy is subject to peaks and troughs, depending on climatic conditions, the system is able to store electricity when generation is high and then supply energy to the grid when less electricity is being generated or when there are additional or higher demands on the grid.
The UK and Scottish Governments are committed to a rapid transition towards a zero-carbon economy; a significant expansion in low carbon electricity generation is a key part of the Governments’ energy strategy. Consequences of this expansion include changes to the daily electricity demand and supply pattern, an increasingly volatile generation mix and greater issues with geographical concentration of generation. Transmission network constraints occur when network infrastructure limits the ability of the network to transmit all the available power to where it is needed.
There is a growing need for technologies that can respond quickly to balance generation and load in the system. This is to ensure grid stability and security of supply, ultimately avoiding the need for extreme demand-reduction measures, which can include blackouts.
Battery storage offers an efficient and responsive solution to actively manage grid demands by storing surplus electricity for distributing back to the grid in times of peak demand. This system caters for the inherent intermittency of renewable energy sources, helping to balance transmission requirements and Lithium-ion battery storage is currently the most suitable technology.
Benefits of co-located solar PV battery storage
Benefits of solar PV
The battery storage facility can import or export large amounts of electricity with no time lag and has the following benefits:
Solar Panels
The proposed solar farm will be made up, principally, of dark blue or black solar panels. Each panel is approximately 2 x 1m. The solar panels will be arranged in a series of rows up to a height of 3m at the highest point and tilted southwards at an angle of, typically, 10 – 25 degrees from horizontal.
Inverters
Inverters are required to convert the direct current generated by the photovoltaic modules to grid compatible alternating current (AC). There will be approximately 5 inverters on the site. The inverters are typically 7 m long x 2.5 m wide x 3 m high with a concrete base. To see photos of inverters, please visit the photos section.
Battery storage system
The proposed battery storage system will be made up, principally, 24 battery storage containers, 5 inverter/Power Control System (PCS) containers (comprising of transformer/inverters/monitoring systems), palisade and wooden fencing, parking facilities for limited maintenance vehicles and CCTV monitoring system. The battery storage containers dimensions will typically be 12.2m x 2.44m x rising to 3.1m and the PCS containers typically ranging from 7-10m x 2.2 -3m rising to 3m in height.
Grid Connection
The proposed battery storage system will require a Distribution and client-side substation to connect to the distribution network via a transformer. The proposed solar farm will require a cable easement of 0.8km to connect to the point of connection which is located just to the west of the Site.
Access track
A 4 m wide permeable access track will be installed to provide access to the compound.
Fencing
A 2.4m palisade security fence and double gates will be erected around the site for health, safety and insurance purposes.
CCTV
A series of CCTV cameras will be installed throughout the site. The CCTV arrangements are based on infrared technology so no lighting will be required at night-time.
CLOSE
Our objective is always to mitigate any potential impacts on wildlife and habitats. Solar PV and battery storage system developments encourage biodiversity as they are tranquil sites that do not require heavy machinery or intensive farming for maintenance over the 40-year lifetime of the development. Existing hedgerows and vegetation are retained for the most part and additional site-specific measures will be included in a Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) for the site. These measures combined enable local flora & fauna to flourish in the surrounding area thus increasing biodiversity.
Use of Agricultural Land
The proposed site is located within agricultural farmland and is predominantly used for arable crop cultivation. Following an Agricultural Land Classification, the Site was classified as mostly grade 4 land with pockets of grade 3 and is therefore not within the best and most versatile classification for agriculture.
CLOSE
The UK is undergoing a major change in the way it meets its energy needs. In 2019, the Government declared a climate emergency and legislated to commit the country to achieving ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2050 in comparison to emissions at 1990 levels. To meet these commitments, it is necessary to significantly expand renewable infrastructure and generate home grown, clean, low carbon energy to mitigate the impact of human activity on the climate and ensure the future security of the environment and generations to come.
In order to meet the 2050 emission targets, and more challenging targets set recently at the UN climate change conference COP26, the UK has a responsibility to increase the amount of renewable energy generated power it produces to move away from its dependence on fossil fuels. COP26 goal 1 outlines the need to invest in renewable energy to ensure that the target of global net-zero emissions by 2050, together with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, can be achieved.
A further commitment by the UK Government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 78% by 2035 is set out in the Sixth Carbon Budget (2021). The bar is continually rising and immediate action is needed to achieve such ambitious targets. The rising costs of energy due to demand after the COVID 19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have exacerbated the urgency of the UK’s need for energy security. The publication of the British Energy Security Strategy (2022) reaffirms the urgent need to stabilise the UK’s energy supply. The strategy states the Government expects a five-fold increase in solar energy deployment by 2035.
Powering up Britain was published by the Government in March 2023 and recognises the rising costs of energy bills and the impact on families and households. It strives for a net zero economy by 2050 and declares the aim that the UK will have among the cheapest wholesale electricity prices in Europe by 2035. The target for solar power is to quintuple the amount of solar power, up to 70GW by 2035, enough to power approximately 20 million homes. The Energy Security Plan within the document outlines the Government’s vision to potentially double Britain’s electricity generation capacity by the late 2030’s.
At a local scale, Torridge District Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 following the 2018 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which warned of the devastating consequences of a global temperature rise of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Torridge District Council is also a signatory to the Devon Climate Declaration and is a member of the Devon Climate Emergency Response Group, working with partners to create a Devon Carbon Plan, and an Adaptation Plan.
In 2018, 32% of Devon’s electricity was provided from renewable sources within the County. This is equal to just 7% of the total energy which was used in Devon over the same period. This evidences the significant gap between electricity demand and renewable energy infrastructure in the district. The Climate Change Committee recommend that electricity provided from renewable sources within the County rises to 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2050.
Estimates of renewable energy generation potential in Devon suggest that the County has suitable land available (away from sensitive and protected areas) to meet its requirements and export to other areas. Becoming a green energy powerhouse and an exporter of clean energy is an aspiration for Devon and Somerset set by the Heart of the Southwest LEP in its Blueprint for Clean Growth.
CLOSE
Engaging with our host communities will be vital to the success of this carbon-saving facility. We would like to hear your views on the proposal and how it might benefit not only the wider environment but its immediate surroundings.
We would like to invite you to complete the survey provided on this website. This will help us understand your views on renewable energy and will give you a chance to suggest how the development can best be made to work for the good of the community.
A community digital consultation is ongoing via this website where you are able to make comment on the proposals directly to us via the survey provided or via email. These comments must be submitted no later than 17th August 2023
A public consultation open day will be held on Thursday the 20th of July 2023 at High Bickington Community Centre in the Pyncombe Room, between 3pm-7pm, during which team members and project specialists will be available to discuss the project.
CLOSE
Site Location
Located approximately 9km east of Great Torrington and in a rural area with several small surrounding settlements, including Ebberley 2.5km west, Rodborough 3km south-west and Atherington 4km north.
Size of the Site
The red line boundary is 29 ha/ 70 acres.
Temporary Development
Planning permission is being sought for the development with an operational period of 40 years.
Site Access
The site will be accessed for construction form Meadowcroft to Natty Cross, High Bickington, south of the site.
Construction Period, Construction & Operational Traffic
During the construction period, which is estimated to take approximately 12-24 weeks, delivery vehicles and construction staff will make vehicular trips to the site. Most of the deliveries will be undertaken by HGV. It is envisaged that over the busiest construction period there will be an average of 8 HGV movements (4 arrivals and 4 departures) per day. During the 40-year operational life of the project it is envisaged that in addition to average traffic there will be, on average, 8 vehicle movements (car/van) per month related to the ongoing operation and maintenance of the installation.
Decommissioning the site
At the end of the proposed 40-year operational period, the solar PV and battery storage system and its ancillary equipment will be decommissioned, dismantled and removed and the site fully reinstated to the satisfaction of the local planning authority.
It is estimated that decommissioning of the proposed project Deptford Farm will take approximately 4 months to complete.
Subject to best practice at the time, it is anticipated that solar PV decommissioning will involve:
Subject to best practice at the time, it is anticipated that BESS decommissioning will involve:
Generating Capacity & CO2 Savings
The solar PV and battery storage system would have a capacity of approximately 30MW MIC and 30 MW MAC.
CLOSE
Landscape
A full landscape appraisal will form part of the planning application. Appropriate boundary planting, together with the retention and protection of existing hedgerows would soften the boundaries of the site to assist the projects integration into the landscape. Trees will be retained as part of the development.
Noise
Each battery container and inverter station will contain a small fan that is similar to a domestic bathroom fan in both size & rating, these would be away for sensitive noise receptors and the project will be complaint with the noise limits set by the Torridge Council.
EmiNoise
No greenhouse gas emissions will be emitted by the development.
Is there an increased risk of flooding around solar PV & battery system?
There is no significant increase in surface water runoff and therefore no significant increase in the risk of flooding as little impermeable hard surfacing is required. The majority of the solar farm remains open grassland as the features are not altered in any way. The solar farm infrastructure does not affect runoff volumes, with the use of driplines along the face of panels evenly dispersing surface water across the underlying grounds. In addition, the panels are raised on a pre-fabricated framework on screw-driven legs, so only approximately 5% of the ground surface is utilised.
Use of Agricultural Land
The proposed site is located within agricultural farmland and is predominantly used for arable crop cultivation. An Agricultural Land Classification will be performed but the Site is believed to be classified as mostly Grade 3 land and is therefore not within the best and most versatile classification for agriculture.
How does a solar PV & battery storage system work?
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) energy is the most promising and popular form of solar energy. It works by converting sunlight into electricity. Sunlight is made of photons which are small particles of energy. These photons are absorbed by and pass through the material of a solar cell or solar photovoltaic panel. The photons agitate the electrons found in the material of the photovoltaic cell. As they begin to move (or are dislodged), they are routed into a current. This is electricity – the movement of electrons along a path. These electrons are then conducted through a wire to the grid.
The purpose of a battery storage system is to store electricity that has been generated from the solar PV farm, so that it can be stored and then exported back to the grid at times of high demand/low generation. As the electricity that is generated from solar PV energy is subject to peaks and troughs, depending on climatic conditions, the system is able to store electricity when generation is high and then supply energy to the grid when less electricity is being generated or when there are additional or higher demands on the grid.
The UK and Scottish Governments are committed to a rapid transition towards a zero-carbon economy; a significant expansion in low carbon electricity generation is a key part of the Governments’ energy strategy. Consequences of this expansion include changes to the daily electricity demand and supply pattern, an increasingly volatile generation mix and greater issues with geographical concentration of generation. Transmission network constraints occur when network infrastructure limits the ability of the network to transmit all the available power to where it is needed.
There is a growing need for technologies that can respond quickly to balance generation and load in the system. This is to ensure grid stability and security of supply, ultimately avoiding the need for extreme demand-reduction measures, which can include blackouts.
Battery storage offers an efficient and responsive solution to actively manage grid demands by storing surplus electricity for distributing back to the grid in times of peak demand. This system caters for the inherent intermittency of renewable energy sources, helping to balance transmission requirements and Lithium-ion battery storage is currently the most suitable technology.
CLOSE