Hilton Fields Solar Farm
Located south of Lilyhurst Road, approximately 2km south east of Lilleshall.
Find out moreHILTON FIELDS SOLAR FARM
greentech's proposal to develop a solar farm on 43 hectares (106 acres) of farmland
The solar farm will make a significant contribution to the carbon reduction goals set out by Government to end the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity by 2035. Whilst 42% of all electricity generated in England and Wales in 2020 came from renewable energy sources, further deployment of renewable technologies, including solar, is urgently needed to achieve the UK targets and tackle climate change.
At a time when energy security is becoming increasingly important, this project will generate much-needed renewable energy for the local electricity grid.
HILTON FIELDS SOLAR FARM
Generating 36,000 MWh of renewable energy per year
Would generate enough renewable energy equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 9,500 homes.
Generating the equivalent amount of renewable energy for 6% of all residential properties in Shropshire
Hilton Fields Solar Farm will displace approximately 14,400 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year
What is proposed?
Let's take a look at the panel details
Inclined at an angle of 20°, facing south
Raised above the ground by 0.8m
A 4 metre gap will be maintained between each row of panels
Maximum height of approximately 3m
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Inclined at an angle of 20°, facing south
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Raised above the ground by 0.8m
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A 4 metre gap will be maintained between each row of panels
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Maximum height of approximately 3m
The proposal will consist of rows of solar PV panels, mounted on steel framework, running east to west. The panels will be inclined at an angle of about 20° and face south.
The panels will be raised above the ground by 0.8m and will have a maximum height of approximately 3m. The distance between each row of panels will be about 4m to minimise shading effects between the rows, and allow continued agricultural use through sheep grazing.
Construction vehicles will travel to site from the A518 to the west via Wellington Road and Lilyhurst Road and enter the site via an existing field access point off Lilyhurst Road.
The renewable energy generated by the proposal will connect to the local electricity distribution network via underground cables to the substation at Donnington approximately 3km to the west.
The solar farm will be a temporary development and, after 40 years of operation, it will be decommissioned, all equipment and structures removed from site, and the land will be returned to the owner and back to its original form.
Hilton Fields Solar Farm
We're enhancing and protecting the natural environment.
greentech is actively working to develop and implement nature-based solutions to enhance and protect the natural environment and improve local biodiversity.
The land under and between the solar panels will be planted with species-rich grassland that can be used for sheep grazing.
Encouraging wildlife to use the site.
The proposals will include the creation of new habitats, and parts of the site will be allowed to re-wild naturally. Provision will be made to encourage wildlife to use the site, such as the installation of structures for roosting and nesting birds and bats, and the creation of refuge areas and shelters for hibernating species.
Creating new habitats, helping a range of species.
The proposals will also include new native species-rich hedgerow planting and reinforcement works, and parts of the site will be planted with native trees and shrubs. This planting provides screening, and it creates new habitats that will benefit a range of insects, birds and wildlife.
Saving a tonne of CO2 for every 40 trees planted.
In addition to the carbon offset due to renewable energy generation, another tonne of CO2 will be saved for every 40 trees planted as part of the scheme. Furthermore, the land will not be worked for the operational life of the project giving the soil a chance to naturally rest, recover, and regenerate.
Hilton Fields Solar Farm will make a significant contribution to the climate emergency
WHY SOLAR?
Solar farms are simple and quick to construct.
Solar farms are an accepted and popular form of renewable energy generation especially as they operate without any form of Government subsidy.
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They are also relatively unobtrusive and have limited effect on the environment compared to other forms of energy generation.
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Solar farms are relatively simple and quick to construct and have no emissions to air, water or land once operational.
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The maintenance requirements are very low so there will be hardly any vehicle movements to and from the site once construction is complete.
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At the end of their operational life, all equipment and structures can be removed from site, which is reused or recycled, and the land can revert to agricultural use.
WHY HILTON FIELDS?
Financially viable grid connection
A solar farm needs a cost-effective grid connection, a landowner who is willing to lease suitable land, and safe access from the main road network. Consideration is also given to the National Planning Policy Framework and Local Development Plans.
Of the hundreds of potential sites we assess every year at greentech, we proceed to planning with less than 10%. The other 90% are either unable to achieve a financially viable grid connection, are technically unfeasible due to the characteristics of the site, do not have a willing landowner, or are considered inappropriate from a planning policy or environmental point of view.
Site conditions
Ideal location
Electricity network
No historic impact
Ecological value
Technical reports
UK COMMITMENT TO NET ZERO
We're generating local renewable energy, helping the climate emergency.
In October 2021, the UK Government confirmed fossil fuels will no longer be used to generate electricity after 2035 as part of its plans to tackle its legal commitment to cutting carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.
The demand for electricity by 2035 is projected to increase between 30-40% from today’s levels. Achieving the Government’s targets will require a rapid and expanded deployment of renewable energy over the next 13 years in addition to cutting carbon from other parts of the economy.
The Climate Change Committee, which advises the Government, has identified solar power as having a key role in helping the UK meet its net zero ambitions as it provides a free, natural, renewable source of electricity generation.
SHROPSHIRE'S CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY
We're commited to helping cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.
Shropshire Council declared a climate emergency in May 2019. A Climate Emergency is a public commitment to de-carbonise as rapidly as possible. Shropshire Council has set itself a target to become carbon net-neutral by 2030 and assist in the ambition for Shropshire as a whole, to become carbon net-neutral in the same year. Shropshire Council acknowledges big changes are needed and responding to the climate emergency in such a manner presents many opportunities for positive change to the local economy and area.
Hilton Fields Solar Farm will make a significant contribution to the climate emergency by generating local renewable energy, building resilience into the local electricity grid, improving local biodiversity, and promoting the value of the natural environment.
WHO ARE GREENTECH?
greentech designs, builds, finances, owns and operates solar assets across Europe.
We manage a portfolio of more than 1GW of operational solar farms across Europe and have a development pipeline of more than 1GW of sites under consideration across the UK including several projects in Scotland where efficiency gains have made solar projects viable.
greentech is part of ER Capital Holding, a private investment and asset management group based in the city of Hamburg.
What happens next?
Feedback from residents and other interested parties will be incorporated into the planning application which we hope to submit to Shropshire Council in late 2022.
The council will undertake its own consultation with statutory and non-statutory consultees as well as local residents before making a decision on whether the solar farm should go ahead.
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You are invited to come along and meet our team, ask any questions you may have and find out more about the proposals at a public exhibition on October 13th at Lilleshall Memorial Hall from Noon to 7pm.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please use the form below to get in touch.