Community Update, 19th October 2021 - FAQs and key concerns

There is evidence that Solar Farms destroy ecosystems for insects, mammals and birds

It is correct that that solar farms can have a negative ecological impact if not designed well. This is why we have a corporate partnership with the RSPB and work with other organisations such as Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Buglife, UK Wild Otter Trust, The Barn Owl Trust, and Plantlife to ensure that we get it right.

We work really hard to lead the way in designing wildlife-friendly solar farms, and are proud to be on target to achieve a biodiversity net gain of 104% at one of our current projects – more than doubling the habitat opportunity in its transition from arable land to solar.

Solar panels produce hypersensitive waves/electromagnetic waves that have been evidenced to reduce life expectancy

All electrical and electronic devices create electromagnetic fields or EMF around them when used and also emit electromagnetic radiation or EMR.  This includes solar panels and solar inverters as well as most electrical devices in our homes – televisions, radios, fridges and mobile phones. It’s the level and type of EMR that is important. EMR from solar panels and solar inverters is non-ionizing and is well within national health based guidlines. Refer to the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation (ICNIRP) for more details about EMF and EMR in our daily lives www.icnirp.org.

I’m disappointed that you intend to graze sheep on the site. Grazing animals for meat is a major factor in climate change

We use sheep for conservation grazing on our sites. They help us to manage the grass length, which means we don’t need to use machinery, and are kept at a much lower stocking density than traditional herds. The sheep can benefit from the shade and shelter than the panels provide. Plans are led by our expert ecologist who ensures a benefit for local flora and fauna as well as the sheep themselves.

What made you decide on this location?

There are several considerations we make when deciding on the best location for one of our projects:

Access to the National Grid:

The grid at Sweetbriar Farm has capacity to carry the electricity that our solar project would provide. We are currently working with Northern Powergrid to establish the best connection point.

Road Access:

The current proposed access route is via the A160 and A1077 as shown in yellow on the map to the right. We will be discussing our access route with the County Council as part of our traffic management and monitoring work.

Local Topography:

While solar panels do not need direct sunlight to produce electricity, they are most efficient when sited on flat or south-facing, shade free land.

The land at Sweetbriar Farm is relatively flat, allowing daylight hours to be maximised. There is minimal shade, but we will avoid placing solar panels in any shaded areas.

Biodiversity Opportunities:

Solar Farms can create a safehaven for many native animals, including pollinators, small mammals, reptiles, birds and amphibians. We’re confident that we can achieve a significant biodiversity net gain here.

Local Planning Constraints:

We are in the process of investigating the planning constraints and opportunities at Sweetbriar Farm.

Our planning specialist, Arcus Consulting, are conducting a series of reports and appraisals, including heritage, geophysical, glint and glare, visual, and ecology. We hope to be able to share the results of these with you soon.

Local Planning Designations:

The North Lincolnshire Local Development Framework (2011) provides the policy context for this site:

“North Lincolnshire is in a unique position to be at the heart of the growing low carbon and green economy - a renewable energy capital”.

Are you proposing an open day?

We do not currently feel that it’s in the interest of public health to have a face to face open day, but please email, or phone us on 0114 286 6217 and we’ll arrange a meeting.