Sunderland City Council will review Boom Power Ltd’s proposal for a 27.3 MW solar farm at Usworth House Farm on January 6, 2025. The plan includes 59,319 solar panels on Green Belt land, designed to operate for 40 years before decommissioning. It could power over 11,000 homes annually and reduce CO₂ emissions by 12,500 tons annually, with biodiversity measures such as hedgerows, wildlife habitats, and sheep grazing. While planners support the project, citing renewable energy and biodiversity benefits, 443 objections raise concerns about Green Belt encroachment, visual impacts, and restoration doubts. If approved, the project requires referral to the Secretary of State due to its Green Belt location.
Sunderland debates Green Belt solar farm proposal
The proposed solar farm features 59,319 panels, designed to operate for 40 years and supply energy to 11,000 homes. (Image Source: ChronicleLive)
NTPC REL, a subsidiary of NTPC Green Energy Ltd, won a 2 GW solar project bid through an e-reverse auction conducted on January 3. (Image Credit/Source: SolarPanal355/Pixabay)
Waaree provides solar solutions such as panel manufacturing, EPC services, project development, and rooftop systems, with a presence in 25 countries. (Image Credit/Source: Kelly/Pexels)
Jammu and Kashmir’s solar rooftop initiative has completed 617 installations, targeting 30,000 homes under a subsidy scheme. (Image Credit/Source: Pixabay/Pexels)
RWE solar projects were awarded by Urząd Regulacji Energetyki (URE) in Poland, totaling 102 MW (DC) or 84 MW (AC) capacity. (Image Source: RWE)