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New solar farm gets approval (From Daily Echo)
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New solar farm for West End gets approval
1:41pm Friday 14th December 2012 in News
By Julian Robinson, Eastleigh Chief Reporter
New solar farm gets approval
DEVELOPERS have been given the go ahead to build a huge new solar farm in the Hampshire countryside.
It will cover 40 acres of farm land, consist of more than 25,500 solar panels and create enough energy to power 1,800 homes.
Building work on the 200,000 sq m facility at Burnetts Lane, West End, may even be completed in March, according to energy firm Solarcentury.
It will generate 7.3mw of electricity and a small substation built on the land will enable that to be distributed on the National Grid.
A footpath that currently crosses the proposed site is set to be diverted to the northern boundary of the site, at Chalcroft Farm.
News of the planning go ahead comes just weeks after proposals were announced for a 200,000 panel facility near Fareham - which would be the country's biggest solar farm.
German company IB Vogts have come up with a distinctive Schnauzer-shaped design for the farm, which is expected to cost £40m.
Eastleigh Borough Council Leader, Keith House, said of the Chalcroft Farm scheme: “I'm pleased to see the planning approval for the Solar Farm at Chalcroft, and I look forward to this new addition to Eastleigh's growing renewable energy generation infrastructure.
"The Borough prides itself on leading the agenda on tackling climate change and the Chalcroft Solar Farm will contribute to reaching our ambitious target to reduce CO2 from the Borough by a third by 2020.”
Comments(15)
The Phantomerer
says...
3:04pm Fri 14 Dec 12
.
loosehead
says...
3:39pm Fri 14 Dec 12
sarfhamton
says...
5:15pm Fri 14 Dec 12
"Think of the house prices, think of the children, for the love of god think of the traffic!"
sarfhamton
says...
5:16pm Fri 14 Dec 12
loosehead
says...
5:45pm Fri 14 Dec 12
sarfhamton wrote:Have you heard the Hype about Fracking?
Actually just realised this is down the road from me, do i get cheap leccy now?
say it will be better than the USA & cheap power could be on the way?
Do you know if there's any sites in this area of the South?
I wonder what the Anti Solar & Wind Farms would prefer a development like this or to have Fracking on their doorstep?
downfader
says...
7:06pm Fri 14 Dec 12
loosehead wrote:Trouble with the fracking is that the USA's fracking is largely rural, in the UK its very near residential areas. The two tests done in the north caused minor tremors and damage to homes. If they get the fracking wrong it will be worse than the floods of the past few years
sarfhamton wrote:Have you heard the Hype about Fracking?
Actually just realised this is down the road from me, do i get cheap leccy now?
say it will be better than the USA & cheap power could be on the way?
Do you know if there's any sites in this area of the South?
I wonder what the Anti Solar & Wind Farms would prefer a development like this or to have Fracking on their doorstep?
The fracking companies wont be bringing the cost of gas down in the UK. They'll still conspire to raise them in the new year as they've always planned.
I think the solar site is a good idea. We need more! We also need to become world leaders for development and research into solar power and find ways to refine and improve it for the future.
Of the Ilk
says...
7:56pm Fri 14 Dec 12
sarfhamton
says...
8:18pm Fri 14 Dec 12
Of the Ilk wrote:Trouble is i dont use much electric when the sun is shining
If every suitable roof in this country had solar panels we would be able to produce all the electricity we need during daylight hours.
Of the Ilk
says...
8:21pm Fri 14 Dec 12
sarfhamton wrote:Oh yes you do!
Of the Ilk wrote:Trouble is i dont use much electric when the sun is shining
If every suitable roof in this country had solar panels we would be able to produce all the electricity we need during daylight hours.
loosehead
says...
8:59pm Fri 14 Dec 12
Looked into Solar Panels in Thailand as I was thinking of going back.
You can store Electricity to use at night as they do.
yes it's batteries but if the research being done on Liquid Air Motors is good you could store it in one of those.
In the Summer months free power up to at least 9-00(21-00) if you haven't got batteries & through the night if you have.
Winter if you work & store excess power you'd have it to use at night.
The King of Thailand put Solar Panels in a rural location but the locals went & bought mega electrical goods so they needed more panels.
If the councils were made to allow Council tenants to have these panels like I have & then hired talked to installation companies to get them installed isn't any cut in your electricity bill welcome? especially if the Panels are free like mine were?
derek james
says...
9:07pm Fri 14 Dec 12
how much is it being subsidised by hard up consumers who can barely afford to pay there power bills at the moment? what percentage of arable land does it take out? clearly it's not going to be as easy to drive a tractor between rows of panels as in an open field, would'nt be surprised if a few get clouted and left for dead.
Of the Ilk
says...
9:10pm Fri 14 Dec 12
loosehead
says...
8:22am Sat 15 Dec 12
Of the Ilk wrote:Have you any South facing areas say in your garden?
I would put solar panels on my roof, but they would generate little power as my usable roof area all faces north. I am well aware that unused electricity generated during the day can be stored for use at night.
Many people don't put them on the roofs but up aloft in their gardens so not losing any garden space,
the very latest ones will work well even in weather like this.
the new UV coils/strips will also give you hot water even on cloudy days.
if you can still get a supplier doing this you can lease out a space(Roof in your case garden) & they will supply the panels & maintain them twice a year.
plug a battery into a socket & they'll never know your storing energy
loosehead
says...
8:22am Sat 15 Dec 12
Of the Ilk wrote:Have you any South facing areas say in your garden?
I would put solar panels on my roof, but they would generate little power as my usable roof area all faces north. I am well aware that unused electricity generated during the day can be stored for use at night.
Many people don't put them on the roofs but up aloft in their gardens so not losing any garden space,
the very latest ones will work well even in weather like this.
the new UV coils/strips will also give you hot water even on cloudy days.
if you can still get a supplier doing this you can lease out a space(Roof in your case garden) & they will supply the panels & maintain them twice a year.
plug a battery into a socket & they'll never know your storing energy
housewife says...
1:56pm Fri 14 Dec 12
.