Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Solar farms contribute to Net Zero carbon emission targets, enable more energy to be generated domestically improving security of supply, and are the cheapest form of new electricity generation1, alongside onshore and offshore wind. This makes solar farms, like Beane, not just good for the environment but also for the consumer.
Why have you chosen this site?
The site has been chosen as it has good solar irradiation levels, lies outside of any statutory environmental, archaeological and landscape designations and has a viable grid connection.
How much electricity would the solar farm produce?
Beane Solar Farm would be capable of generating up to 49.9 megawatts (MW) of clean, low cost electricity. That’s enough to power around 13,500 homes.2
What stage is the project at?
Initial environmental and technical surveys have been undertaken to ensure the site is suitable for solar farm development, and to inform a preliminary layout and design. We are currently undertaking further surveys prior to developing the final design.
We have also conducted a public consultation with the local community to get feedback on the preliminary design. We held a public exhibition on 14 November 2023 in the local area to share more information about the project and to enable the community to provide us with feedback.
The feedback received will be taken into consideration, along with the results of further site surveys, as we refine the design of the solar farm.
What if I couldn’t attend the public exhibition?
All of the materials displayed at our public exhibition can be found here.
What benefits will the project deliver?
As we transition to a net-zero future, reducing the impacts of climate change both locally and globally, RES' priority is to deliver clean, green electricity at the lowest cost for consumers. Analysis on electricity generation costs published by DESNZ1 shows that large-scale solar, alongside onshore wind, are now the cheapest forms of electricity generation. This makes developments like Beane Solar Farm not just good for the environment but also for consumers.
Beane Solar Farm has significant potential to enhance biodiversity, hosting a range of habitats including wildflower meadows, hedgerows and nectar-rich areas for pollinators. A typical solar farm uses around just 5% of the total site area with the rest of the land remaining undisturbed, creating significant opportunities to provide a range of ecological benefits.
RES is committed to ensuring that, wherever possible, local contractors and employees are used in all aspects of solar farm development. The major opportunities arise during the construction phase when suitably qualified local firms are often invited to bid for different aspects of construction. We encourage our contractors to source construction materials locally (i.e. within the county) and to use local transport and plant hire companies where possible, in addition to local services and amenities.
RES also believes that our renewable energy schemes should also provide meaningful benefits locally and we are inviting input from the local communities on their priority aims and projects in their area which the project may be able to support. Examples could include supporting community assets, apprenticeships, fuel poverty schemes, etc.
Will the solar farm be very visible?
We are proposing infill and new planting which, as well as reducing potential visibility, would provide wildlife corridors and vital resources for mammals, birds, and insect species. We are addressing the main concerns of visual impact raised by residents of Cottered, Luffenhall, and Cromer.
A Landscape and Visual Assessment will accompany the planning application, which will ensure any potential impact on the landscape is appropriately assessed and mitigated.
Will the solar farm affect the cultural heritage assets in the local area?
A Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment (CHIA) will be undertaken as part of the emerging application. The CHIA will identify cultural heritage assets that may be subject to potential impact from the solar farm and a programme of mitigation will be proposed where appropriate. We are also actively engaging with the custodians of Cromer Windmill in regard to our proposals.
Doesn’t the manufacture of solar panels produce more carbon than they save in their lifetime?
As with all manufactured products, some carbon is emitted in the manufacture of solar panels. Research has shown that the average carbon payback period for solar panels is 1-4 years. This means that over their lifetime, typically 40 years, each panel will generate zero-carbon and zero-pollution electricity for decades after any carbon emitted in its production has been paid back.
We propose further environmental enhancements, such as tree or hedgerow planting, which would actively remove carbon from the atmosphere. This will also contribute to the offset of any carbon emissions created when manufacturing the panels.
What about security on the solar farm?.
For Beane Solar Farm, we propose the use of security fencing around the substation compound only. Perimeter fencing will be in the form of deer fencing up to 2.5m high, located inside boundary vegetation, with mammal gaps to ensure the free movement of small mammals.
CCTV is a requirement for security on site. However, cameras would be inward facing and there is no lighting proposed except security lighting at the substation compound. There will be a need for some emergency signage, but we would seek to position such signs sensitively.
Is solar an efficient form of power generation?
Solar panels don’t need direct sunlight to operate, and they produce power all year round. We are proposing the use of bifacial solar panels which can produce more electricity in less space. Diffuse sunlight is sufficient, and a grass surface reflects enough light to justify the use of bifacial modules.
There is sometimes confusion regarding solar farm efficiency because they only generate electricity “11% of the time”. This figure is based on the average capacity factor for solar farms, but it is incorrect to equate this measure with operational efficiency. The capacity factor is the measure of actual output as a percentage of the maximum capacity (which in the case of Beane Solar Farm is 49.9MW). The solar farm would generate electricity for considerably more than 11% of the time but this may not be at its maximum capacity dependent on conditions such as weather. No electricity generator is designed to run at full-load capacity continuously and the capacity factors for renewable electricity generating stations typically range between 10% and 65%.
Do solar farms pose a risk to food security?
Solar farms do not pose a threat to food security. One of the biggest risks to food security is the changing climate. This is clear from reports on how last year’s drought affected harvests of staple crops including potatoes, carrots and onions.
According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), climate change could reduce the UK’s stock of high-grade agricultural land by nearly three-quarters by 20503. Solar farms help to tackle the effects of climate change.
Beane Solar Farm is specifically designed to be dual purpose, helping combat climate change through renewable generation while enabling continued agricultural use, in the form of sheep grazing.
Natural England’s Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) mapping has identified that the land in the area is most likely to be Grade 3 agricultural land with some areas classified as Grade 2. A full Agricultural Land Classification survey has been carried out and will accompany the planning application. The land is therefore suitable for the siting of vital new renewable energy infrastructure. Furthermore, the solar farm is specifically designed to be dual purpose, enabling continued agricultural use, in the form of sheep grazing, and renewable generation.
Shouldn’t solar be put onto roofs or brownfield sites?
Rooftop solar has an important part to play in meeting net zero targets. Analysis from the Climate Change Committee and other independent bodies shows that the UK will need to deploy at least 40GW of solar by 2030 if it is to achieve net zero by 2050.
Solar Energy UK estimate that around 37% (15GW) of this could be provided by residential and commercial rooftop solar, with the remaining 63% (25GW) coming from large scale ground mounted solar farms.
Like with rooftops, there are insufficient brownfield sites to accommodate the large-scale solar deployment required to achieve net zero targets.
For example, according to the East Hertfordshire Council brownfield register, there is just over 22 hectares of brownfield land spread across 27 different locations in the area, with an average area of 0.8 hectares. These are not practicable for ground-mounted solar projects. (For North Hertfordshire District Council, it is just 25 hectares of brownfield land spread on 34 locations, with an average area of 0.7 hectares).
How many solar panels will there be and how tall are they?
At this early stage, we are consulting on a preliminary design for the solar farm and as such it is subject to change. The total number of panels will be informed by ongoing surveys and assessments as well as feedback from the local community and stakeholders.
The solar panels will be up to 3.6m tall, including the infrastructure which supports them. This is a common height for solar panels, as it allows for increased generation in a smaller area. At this height, solar panels have a ground clearance of between 0.6m and 0.8m for livestock grazing.
Are the panels recyclable?
In most cases, 99% of a solar panel is recyclable, and there are well established industrial processes to do this.
A solar panel is made of a frame (typically aluminium), glass, crystalline silicon solar cells, and copper wiring, all of which can be extracted, separated, and recycled or reused. The remaining 1% is an encapsulant material which bonds the layers of a panel together.
There are organisations around the UK and Europe specialising in solar recycling, such as PV Cycle and the European Recycling Platform. They are working with solar developers to minimise electrical waste and recycle old panels in line with the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations.
Other renewable electricity sources are better than solar.
A future balanced energy mix is vital to improve the reliability and resiliency of the energy grid and helps to ensure affordability for customers. Experience and research show that it's important to avoid overdependence on any single fuel type. The future energy mix will be a diverse menu of low-carbon and renewable energy technologies, all pulling together to meet the net zero targets.
Other renewable technologies will have their own merits in relation to cost, efficiency, environmental or social benefits.
2 The homes equivalent figure has been calculated by taking the predicted annual electricity generation of the site (based on RES assessments Beane has a predicted capacity factor of 11.2% and dividing this by the annual average electricity figures from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) showing that the annual UK average domestic household consumption is 3,509 kWh (December 2022).