A UK-based renewable energy company has today (Thursday, June 1) announced that they have submitted plans to Northumberland County Council for a solar farm and battery installation.

Highfield Energy Park is planned to be located on land to the west of Whittonstall, Northumberland, and, if plans succeed, will be built by Exagen, a renewable energy developer, in collaboration with local businesses.

The energy park has the potential to supply power equivalent to the annual usage of over 17,700 homes in Northumberland.

Local communities were engaged to discuss the site proposals and design through parish councils, ward councillors, in-person exhibitions, an online webinar, a Q&A in Whittonstall at the request of residents, and other individual meetings with interested parties.

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Exagen has said that with solar development, land can be returned to agriculture with higher quality, more productive soils on decommissioning.

This project in Northumberland involves development on a former open cast coal mining site which benefits from substantial existing woodland screening and is on poor-grade agricultural land.

The site has been chosen because of its available grid capacity and infrastructure, with just a short section of underground cable required to join the solar farm to the point of grid connection.

Earthworks, vegetation planting and landscaping will be implemented in advance of construction to allow time for the planting to establish and begin to mature before the equipment is constructed.

The energy developer will look to partner with local businesses on the project, inviting local contractors to get involved where possible.

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Mark Rowcroft, Managing Director of Exagen Development said: "Solar provides one of the cheapest and quickest to deliver forms of energy generation and alongside energy storage is an important part of the future energy mix.

"We’re excited about working with local communities and businesses to ensure the project is not only providing clean, home-grown energy onto our grid but that the site is also benefitting the local area.

"Over the next few months, we’ll be announcing a variety of opportunities for individuals and businesses to get involved. We look forward to hearing from those in Whittonstall, Consett and the surrounding area about how they can make this site best work for them in the long term."