Solar farm that could power 16,000 homes given cautious welcome by North Hampshire residents – here’s why they think it might benefit the environment

A solar farm planned for land between two North Hampshire villages has been given a cautious welcome by residents – if it does lead to an increase in biodiversity.

Their comments come from a public exhibition event held last week, and ahead of an online session organised by RWE Renewables next week.

Kevin Chatburn from the Tadley and Pamber Rural Protection Group attended a meeting held at Sherborne St John last week to learn more about RWE Renewables’ vision for the two-site project.

He wants people to attend a follow-up, online, session from 6pm on Wednesday, August 7, and have their say. Places are free and can be booked by logging on to bit.ly/aldermastonroad

A dedicated email address is info@aldermastonroadsolarfarm.co.uk, and the consultation runs until Wednesday, August 21.

Ben Kwok, development project manager at RWE Renewables, said: “These proposals are an important opportunity to help tackle the climate crisis and deliver on local and national energy targets.

“The UK needs to rapidly increase its renewable energy generation to deliver on its aim to decarbonise the energy sector by 2035, and projects like Aldermaston Road Solar Farm will help achieve that aim.

“We are currently in the early stages of the proposals and are looking to members of the community to help shape the scheme.

“We want this scheme to reflect the wants and needs of local communities and we are very much looking forward to hearing your thoughts throughout this important engagement period.”

What are the proposals for the Aldermaston Road solar farm?

It would see the energy-generating panels on land in Pamber Green and a second site north of Sherborne St John.

RWE Renewables said the site will generate enough energy every year to power 16,000 homes over a 40-year period.

In return it would displace an estimated 1.1m tonnes of carbon dioxide over the lifetime of the project.

There would be environmental benefits too: The company says it will deliver biodiversity net gain that is five times the national requirement for such schemes. This includes hedgerow and tree planting that will act as a screen for households, while acting as a shelter for wildlife.

Sheep will be allowed to graze on the land, and it is hoped the soil quality will be able to improve over the farm’s lifespan.

And a £250,000 community fund would support initiatives such as rooftop solar panels installed on community buildings in the villages.

It is also hoped the scheme would lead to enhanced rights of way, permissive paths and community spaces including amenity areas.

RWE estimates the site will not just generate power, but money: More than £2m in business rates over the 40-year lifespan of the project.

‘It would be on my doorstep’: Environmental expert on impact of the scheme

Naturalist Paul Sterry is one of those who will be most affected by RWE’s plans – one of the farms will be at the end of his gardens.

“It would quite literally be on my doorstep,” he said.

“These things are an eyesore, and the natural reaction would be to oppose it, but the naturalist in me sees the potential if it was done properly, and for genuine and meaningful biodiversity gain.

“Here is an opportunity to push the boundaries in terms of what might be achieved, as opposed to greenwash that one often sees associated with planning where people promise the earth but seldom deliver.”

He called on RWE to involve experts, such as the Botanical Society of British Isles, with the creation of the solar farm, as well as monitoring it over the years.

Mr Sterry has converted his half-acre gardens into a meadow, achieving Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) in the process. He wants RWE to adopt the same principles for any build.

“It would be a fantastic if the solar park aimed to reach SINC designation within, say, five or 10 years,” he said.

“It’s not just a fanciful requirement on my part, it would enhance and preserve the natural environment for future generations.

“The signs look positive.”

Mr Chatburn said the first consultation event gave him an opportunity to share this with RWE’s representatives, and he felt it was taken on board.

“They have agreed to a follow-up meeting to discuss this, and other points, in more detail.

“They said they would be keen to get local expert and volunteer knowledge, from an ecology point of view.”

Mr Sterry said not everyone welcomed the project, with some objecting to it being an eyesore, others concerned about taking agricultural land out of use for up to 40 years, and another tranche objecting to the production of panels.

“I can sympathise with these views, but the field in question – the one I know best – is essentially a biodiversity desert and, from an environmental point of view, anything that can be done to improve that would be a fantastic thing,” he said.

And he knows what is possible from experiences of his own meadow.

“I have unlocked the potential. I’ve not added anything, I’ve just not mowed the grass, and embarked on a journey as a response to the environmental devastation around me,” he explained.

“It’s a sort of Noah’s Ark for biodiversity.”

Is the planned solar farm future proof?

Technology is changing at a rapid pace: Just ask anyone who once had an radio cassette player.

Solar technology is not immune to advancements in technology.

They were first developed in 1883 by Charles Fritts, but it wasn’t until the 1950s when they came to market.

Solar was added to the White House by then US president Jimmy Carter back in 1979, as the first stirrings over the climate emergency were made.

The technology has slowly become part of our lives ever since, from powering devices such as calculators to starting to generate enough energy to power homes and towns.

Advances in battery storage technology means they are becoming more and more attractive for energy creation, especially to the home consumers notably through the Solar Together scheme that sees councils offer residents bulk discounts on installations.

And other advances mean transparent panels are coming to the market – windows in homes could generate electricity, while 3D printing methods could reduce production costs further.

Mr Chatburn said: “We talked with RWE about the fact that, over a 40-year life, the technology of solar production is going to change quite significantly, with new materials and techniques.

“They were open to discussion about how, as the performance of the solar farm improves, that could be shared, giving an increasing area over to nature.”

He added that RWE came back to him after the open session on Wednesday asking for a follow-up meeting to discuss these proposals in more detail.