EDF Renewables strengthens solar capacity further in England and Wales

Two more projects are now part of EDF Renewables UK’s growing grid scale solar portfolio in England and Wales. Burwell (49.9 MW) is a consented project in South East Cambridgeshire which has been acquired from AGR. Porth Wen (49.9MW) is another consented project in North Anglesey which has been acquired from developer Countryside Renewables and also has consent for a battery storage unit.

Solar, alongside wind and battery storage, is a significant enabler for the UK to reach its net zero target by 2050. Each project will generate enough low carbon energy for the equivalent of 9,500 homes.* 

It is expected the solar farms will both be built by the end of 2022 and EDF Renewables will work closely with local communities to make sure they are aware of what is happening on each project during the construction process. Community benefit funds will be offered at each site in form of an  annual £10k payment provided to the communities surrounding both solar farms to invest in local initiatives or people. Our goal is to support the local community during the development and over the operational life of our solar farms. The management and administration of the funds will require further engagement with the local community over the coming months.

EDF Renewables will be making a number of biodiversity enhancements at each site. At Burwell there will be more than a kilometre of new native species – rich hedgerows and new 5 metre wide reedbeds will be created along the perimeter of the site. At Porth Wen the solar farm will be on 190 acres of land which will still be able to be used for sheep grazing. There’s also going to be a mile long wildlife corridor and wildflower planting. These improvements will allow for foraging, breeding opportunities and will provide shelter for a variety of wildlife. 

Onshore and Solar Director, Mark Vyvyan-Robinson said “We are very happy to be adding these two excellent new projects to our growing solar portfolio. EDF Renewables is an experienced developer and we are firmly committed to solar as a technology which will help us accelerate a net zero future where clean energy powers all our lives. Investments like these are also contributing to the UK’s green economic recovery from COVID – 19.”

EDF Renewables is currently developing a number of other solar farm projects in the East of England; Sutton Bridge near Spalding in Lincolnshire, Tye Lane near Bramford in Sussex, Bloy’s Grove between Swainsthorpe and Mulbarton in Norfolk and Longfield near Chelmsford in Essex (a joint venture with Padero).

The company is also looking to expand its interests in Wales with the Porth Wen project and other solar and onshore developments. 

EDF Renewables is part of EDF Group which as part of its CAP 2030 strategy, aims to double EDF’s renewable energy production from 28 GW to 60 GW. 

Notes to Editors:

*Load factors based on the five year rolling averages on unchanged configuration basis using Table 6.5 of 'Digest of UK Energy Statistics' - latest figures as per July 2020 release.

For more information
Lindsey Southworth lindsey.southworth@edf-re.uk           
Senior External Communications Manager        
(M) 07813 230379    

About EDF Renewables
EDF Renewables UK (www.edf-re.uk) is part of one of the world’s largest electricity companies and our investment and innovation in the UK and Ireland is bringing down costs for consumers and bringing significant benefits for communities. With our operating portfolio of 36 wind farms and one of the UK’s largest battery storage unit (together totalling almost 1GW) we are providing some of the much needed new affordable, low carbon electricity to the UK and Ireland across four technologies (onshore and offshore wind, solar and battery storage). We have an expanding renewables portfolio with almost 4GW of projects in planning and development and 600 MW currently under construction. We also have offices in Edinburgh, Rainton Bridge (near Durham), London and Dublin.