A solar project in West Burton has received the go-ahead by the secretary of state for energy security and net zero, and comprises four electricity generations stations, each with an expected capacity of 50MW, and mounted solar arrays.

The project, to be developed between Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, could have the potential to generate enough clean energy to power 144,000 homes, and replace around 24 per cent of the generation capacity of the coal powered West Burton Power station, in above to support the UK’s pledge to reach net zero by 2025.

It is classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) due to the amount of renewable electricity that it would generate, and is being developed by Island Green Power, and international developer of renewable energy projects that have already installed 26 solar projects worldwide.

Having been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration in March 2023, the application was then accepted for examination the following month, which local people and the local authority were able to participate in. Recommendations were then made to the secretary of state in August 2024.

This is the 89th energy application out of 149 applications examined, and was completed by the Planning Inspectorate within the statutory timescale set out in the Planning Act 2008.