EDF Renewables UK has reached the site preparation and construction stage on two permitted solar farms in the UK with a combined capacity of about 100MW.
Burwell in South East Cambridgeshire, England, and Porth Wen in Anglesey, Wales, each have a capacity of 49.9MW.
The first generation is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2022, according to EDF.
Since then, the company has undertaken environmental and ecological pre-construction assessments, finalised planning conditions and highway permits, recruited contractors, and interacted with local stakeholders.
Both projects have formed a community liaison group to develop strong ties with the community, according to the statement.
EDF said that community benefit funds of £20,000 per project will be available for good causes, and that parish and community council involvement will ensure that this flexible funding is used to support local priorities, such as educational programmes, new sports equipment, biodiversity initiatives, and more.
EDF Renewables UK proposes to install wildlife corridors, plant additional hedgerows, and, in the case of Burwell, establish 1.8 hectares of new reedbeds at both locations.
Ben Fawcett, EDF Renewables UK head of solar, said: “At a time when tackling climate change and energy security are at the forefront of all our minds, EDF Renewables UK is pleased to have made good progress at these two sites.
“Together, the projects will be capable of generating nearly 100MW of renewable energy every year.”
“The sites get plenty of sunshine and are near to a grid connection, making them excellent locations for solar.”
EDF Renewables has 3GW of solar projects in various stages of development or planning, including a solar farm at Redcar that will feed an innovative green hydrogen project incorporating wind energy in the Tees Valley, in addition to Burwell and Porth Wen.
