08 July 2011

UK's biggest solar farm connected to the grid
A redundant tin mine has been brought into the modern era by being transformed into what is claimed to be the UK's largest ever solar farm.

The farm, which claims to be the first in the south west of England, boasts 5,680 solar panels and is called the Wheal Jane solar farm.

This week the site, covering a 7.2 acre plot in Truro, Cornwall, was connected to the grid in by UK-based solar developer Lightsource Renewable Energy (LRE).

Capable of generating up to 1.4 MW farm, which according to LRE, would make it the biggest in the UK to date.

But it also only the start of what are many planned renewable energy projects at the reclaimed mine.

The site is the planned home to the UK's first earth science park, which will use renewable energy from solar, wind, hydro, shallow and deep geothermal sources, it is also currently being developed into a 60,000sqft business park

LRE worked with Solarcentury to deliver the solar farm, with the funding for the project coming from Octopus Investments.

LRE head of planning, Conor McGuigan, said: "While it's been disappointing the Government has decided not to support the large scale solar sector going forward, the solar farms developed this summer will play a critical role in the supply of green energy in the UK, we look forward to helping owners develop solar projects from this point."

Solarcentury chief executive, Derry Newman, added: "To see a tin mine diversify into producing 21st Century clean solar energy, provides an optimistic glimpse of where we're now heading for our energy production.

"Wheal Jane's solar farm demonstrates that solar technology can contribute to our clean energy future, and quickly."

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