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ELGIN
ENERGY
Broad Quay House, Prince St., Bristol BS1 4DJ
Tel: +44 (0) 117 223 2034
www.elgin-energy.com
Proposed Kells Solar PV Farm Overview of the Project
4.0
BENEFITS OF SOLAR PV?
4.1
Clean Energy
Solar farms are naturally clean, quiet and visually
unobtrusive and emit zero carbon emissions.
4.2
Enhancement of local wildlife will be set out in the
Biodiversity Management Plan, through the
introduction of wide ecological corridors, bird boxes,
raptor perches to name but a few.
Furthermore, grass and wildflower mix will be
introduced between the rows of panels to encourage
further biodiversity enhancements.
The land will continue to be in agricultural use in the
form of sheep grazing.
Existing field boundaries, hedgerows are retained will
all be retained.
Trequite Solar Farm, Liskeard, Cornwall
“Solar farms typically take up less than 5% of the ground they occupy
leaving huge scope for Biodiversity enhancements in a protected
space”(BRE National Solar Centre Biodiversity Best Practice Guidelines 2014)
1.0
GENERAL INFORMATION
Elgin Energy EsCo Ltd are seeking to develop a ground
mounted solar PV farm in Kells, Ballymena, Northern
Ireland.
The proposed Kells Solar PV Project is at the preplanning stage and been developed to stage that allows
us to meet and consult with all stakeholders.
2.0
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The proposed project is located on lands to the east and
west of the Whappstown Road and to the northwest of
the Doagh Road.
screwed or pushed into the ground and an aluminium
support frame which is bolted together.
System is requires no concrete foundations (aside from
substation bases) and designed to be ‘reversible’ leaving
only small holes to be backfilled when removed upon
completion of the project.
3.3
3.4
Substation
An electricity substation comprising of a small prefabricated building around the size of a portakabin is
proposed. Cabling from the panels/inverters will be
routed to the substation via a network of shallow
trenches which will be backfilled.
3.5
3.0
PHYSICAL ELEMENTS OF A SOLAR PV
FARM?
3.1
Photovoltaic Panels
Proposed panels will be approximately 2m x 1m.
3.2
Mounting System
4.3
4.4
4.5
5.0
FURTHER INFORMATION
5.1
Installation
Works will commence upon gaining the necessary
planning grid connection approvals. Installation will take
approximately 4 months.
Site preparation will involve construction of some access
tracks and a temporary storage compound area to
accommodate storage of equipment and pre-fabricated
site offices.
5.2
As there is no mass concrete surface and the solar
farm remains grassland, the solar farm infrastructure
does not effect run-off volumes.
Construction Access & Traffic
All construction traffic is proposed to access the site via
the dedicated existing site access on the Whappstown
Road. A Traffic Management Plan is proposed to minimise
disruption to the local road network.
Decommissioning
Flooding
Lighting
There will be no permanent lighting from the
completed development
Glint/Glare
At the end of the project lifetime, the project can be
decommissioned in a matter of weeks.
4.6
4.7
Screening
It will not be possible to screen the site from every
viewpoint but planting of ‘standard’ and ‘heavy
standard’ trees and hedgerows will be planted to
screen or break up views. These plans will be outlined
in the proposed Landscape Management Plan.
There are no glint/glare effects from the PV panels as
they are designed to absorb the sunlight, this is
evidenced by the use of PV modules adjacent to the
Gatwick airport runways.
Inverters
Inverters are required to convert the direct current
generated by the photovoltaic modules to grid
compatible alternating (AC).
Biodiversity
5.3
Local Contractors
Local contractors and businesses will be used as far as
possible in the installation stage. Please get in touch if you
would like to get involved
Further information is available on the Kells Solar PV Project
website which can be viewed at www.kellssolarpvproject.com
Fencing
A rural ‘timber & post’ fence (or ‘deer fence) along with a
selection of CCTV are proposed for insurance and
security reasons. The fencing will be between 2.0m and
2.4m in height and the CCTV will have a height of 3m.
3.6
CCTV
A series of CCTV cameras are proposed for the project.
The cameras will be 3m high and located inside the field
boundary and will point inwards.
The mounting system comprises of two separate
elements. Upright galvanised steel posts which are
Trewidland Solar Farm, Liskeard, Cornwall
ELGIN
ENERGY
Broad Quay House, Prince St., Bristol BS1 4DJ
Tel: +44 (0) 117 223 2034
www.elgin-energy.com
Planning & Technical Info
COMMUNITY CONSULTATION PROCESS
PLANNING & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
The applicant - Elgin Energy - together with the appointed
consultant team are undertaking comprehensive and
structured consultation as part of the pre-planning application
process. This process seeks to:
The DoE formal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
determination identifies the key potential environmental
effects that it considers is necessary for the planning
application to address. Elgin Energy has reviewed this
information and proposes that the EIA will provide a detailed
assessment of all the key potential environmental issues,
namely:
ÿ To ensure meaningful engagement takes place with the
appropriate
stakeholders
including
the
elected
representatives, appropriate statutory authorities and the
public to help inform the planning and design process;
ÿ To ensure all stakeholders are fully aware of the proposal
and to address concerns, answer queries and seek
feedback; and
ÿ To enhance the quality of the scheme and thereby
improve the content and quality of the planning
application.
Partaking in this process does not affect your
statutory rights to make representations to the DoE
in respect of the planning application when
submitted.
When the planning application is submitted it will be
advertised by DoE and neighbours surrounding the
site will be notified in accordance with internal DoE
procedures.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Planning permission will be sought for the construction of a
Solar Farm at the above location.
ÿ The proposal will generate approximately 49,000,000kwh
of
electricity
every
year
or
approximately
1,225,000,000kwh over the 25 year life of the project.
ÿ The proposal will generate enough low carbon electricity
to power 15,000 houses every year.
ÿ The proposal offers a saving of 1,075,000 tonnes of CO2
over the 25 year lifespan of the project;
ÿ The site area is circa 112 hectares;
ÿ Solar panels will be arranged within existing field
boundaries in arrays of 24-48 panels all aligned to face
southwards;
ÿ Panels will be mounted on two levels in frame tables at an
inclination no greater than 25 degrees.
ÿ The frame tables will be supported on steel posts/frames
that will be driven or screwed into the ground at depths of
up to circa 1.5m. No concrete foundations are required to
support these arrays.
ÿ The overall panel height from ground level will typically be
in the range from 2.4m to 3m;
ÿ The arrays will be given a separation distance from each
other of approximately no greater than 6m;
ÿ There will be one primary sub-station on the site;
ÿ There will be in the region of 40 inverter stations
distributed throughout the site;
ÿ A number of 3.5m wide permeable stone pathways will
help to facilitate access to the panels. These will be
located along field boundaries.
ÿ 3m high pole mounted CCTV cameras will be provided at
the site boundary. The full extent of development will also
be enclosed by a 2.4m high post and wire (deer) fence;
ÿ Landscape & Visual Impact
A Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment is being
undertaken to establish the impact on critical viewpoints from
local roads and residential properties.
ÿ Ecology & Ornithology
Detailed surveys of the existing flora (plants and trees etc.),
fauna (mammals, birds etc.) are being completed and
potential impacts predicted.
ÿ Flood Risk
Consideration of how the proposal will contribute to the risk of
flooding will form part of the EIA process.
ÿ Archaeology & Cultural Heritage
The EIA will include an assessment of potential impacts on
the archaeological, built, industrial and cultural heritage
interests of the site and the surrounding area.
ÿ Soils, Geology & Hydrogeology
The EIA will examine the geological profile of the area and
consider the impacts of the proposal on this. This will include
consideration of hydrogeology.
ÿ Noise Impacts
A Noise Impact Assessment will be undertaken using baseline
noise surveys to establish the current noise levels and
followed by a prediction of potential noise impacts in respect
of the proposal
ÿ Traffic & Transport
An assessment of all potential traffic and transport impacts
during construction and operation will be undertaken. All final
proposals will be to the satisfaction of Transport NI.
ÿ Hydrology & Surface Waters
A water quality impact assessment will inform on the impacts
of the proposal on the hydrological regime within and
surrounding the site.
ÿ Water Quality & Hydrogeology
Analysis will be undertaken of local surface water and
groundwater regime and the potential impact of the project on
water quality to ensure that the development proceeds in
accordance with best practice as established by the Northern
Ireland Environment Agency’s published pollution prevention
guidance.
ÿ Air Quality
An Air Quality assessment will be undertaken to identify any
potential air quality impacts from the development on the local
community.
ÿ Archaeology & Cultural Heritage
The EIA will include an assessment of potential impacts on
the archaeological, built, industrial and cultural heritage
interests of the site and the surrounding area.
The final scheme design submitted for planning
approval will take account of the conclusions of the
above assessments and reflect any measures
identified as being required to mitigate potentially
significant environmental impacts to the satisfaction
of the relevant statutory authorities.
What Next?
Elgin Energy is seeking your views on these proposals.
1. You are invited to submit all
comments on the feedback
questionnaire form, using the
stamped addressed envelope
provided
or
online
via
www.kellssolarpvproject.com
2. As per the attached letter you are invited to
return the enclosed booking form to attend
one of our open days and discuss the
project directly with members of our team.