Luminous Energy’s first solar farm on land at Bracon Ash in Norfolk is now in construction
The proposed solar farm will be on two fields, covering 77 acres, north of School Lane and west of East Carleton Rd, Bracon Ash, NR14 8HJ. The fields are bounded to the west, east and north by a combination of hedgerows and woodland. The scheme will connect into the 33kV line that crosses the site and access is proposed along the existing track off East Carleton Rd.
The solar farm will have a capacity of 28.5 MW, generating enough clean and renewable energy to provide the annual electrical needs of over 9,500 average homes.
The development is a particularly exciting one for Luminous Energy as it is the first one to be built and then owned by the company. BELECTRIC, a leading EPC service provider, has been awarded the contract to construct Bracon Ash Solar Farm.
Construction started last November and it is expected to be in operation Summer 2024.Â
Luminous Energy has been successful in securing both a Contracts for Difference with the government backed, Low Carbon Contracts Company, and a 10-year corporate PPA.
What Are The Benefits?
It will assist South Norfolk Council in their commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with local and national targets
We will encourage involvement from local primary school aged children to decorate bird and bat boxes and create insect hotels
No trees or scrub will be lost, in fact there will be additional tree planting on the southern part of the site
New hedgerow planting and filling in the gaps in existing hedgerows will both contain and screen the solar arrays from surrounding properties
A community benefit fund of £15,000 has been agreed for each year the solar farm is in operation. It has not yet been agreed how it will be allocated and we welcome residents views on this
Ditches will be retained and the habitats in them will be preserved; the onsite ponds will be revitalised to encourage pond life such as newts. This will improve overall biodiversity in the area
This solar farm will have a significant positive net biodiversity impact. In addition to hedgerow planting, and the enhancement of the ponds and ditches, there will be wildflower and bird seed mix, and bat and bird boxes installed