Primrose Solar announced it has acquired 5MW Ashby Solar Farm in Leicestershire from Solstice Renewables.
Construction of the project will start immediately. ET Solutions has been appointed as EPC.
The project will generate enough electricity to supply the equivalent of 1,500 typical homes and to save around 2,150 tons of carbon dioxide a year.
Both companies share a common approach to promoting biodiversity and good stewardship of the land, said Giles Clark, CEO, Primrose Solar. “The route for HS2 runs just north of the site which will make it harder to farm effectively so solar energy is a good use of the land.”
The solar farm is well screened from residents and public viewpoints. The companies also plan to implement an ecological and biodiversity enhancement program. It will stay in agricultural usage with sheep grazing among the panels for part of the year.
Primrose will also be continuing Solstice’s program of educational benefits for local schools.
Giovanni Maruca, director, Solstice Renewables, said, “We are very pleased that Ashby Solar Farm will be built and operated by Primrose, a company which shares our own commitment to industry-leading biodiversity, social and educational benefits.”
A community benefit fund will also be set up for the 25-year lifetime of the project, to be shared between Ashby Town Council and the neighboring Packington Parish council. Additional funding is being allocated to provide educational benefits for local schools.