The City Council is set to start early-stage consultation over plans for a solar farm in the north of the city.
The proposed solar farm would deliver clean, green electricity from an approximately 103-acre site close to the M6.
The site is in the Council’s ownership and the land is currently used for sheep farming with some crop cultivation. As part of the plans, options to continue farming are being looked at – as solar farms around the world successfully combine green energy production with other uses including farming and an increase in biodiversity.
The site is on Lentons Lane and adjacent to Sowe Common. The Council owns the land and has selected this site as it has excellent connections to the electrical grid.
The planning application will request permission to develop the site as a solar farm – with photovoltaic panels angled in a southerly direction capturing the maximum energy produced by the sun creating an output of circa 30 MW of green electricity on a summer’s day. This would be equal to:
• The power needed for the equivalent of 7,650 homes over a year
• An annual carbon saving of 7,080 tonnes of CO2 compared to traditional power generation
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change said: “The world is facing a massive battle to address climate change. But it is one we must all rise to.
“This idea of a solar farm fits our climate change ambition, and it will provide reliable and sustainable, clean, green energy while being sensitive to the natural environment. This idea goes hand in hand with out other green projects including plans for Coventry Very Light Rail, all electric buses and our drive to install more on street charge points.
“Of course, solar isn’t new for Coventry – we have been installing roof mounted panels for years. We have solar panels on many of our own buildings ranging from libraries and offices to social care centres and schools. But this is a good next step and one that will see us generate even more clean energy.
“We will be working closely with the tenant farmer and with local people to ensure they are involved every step of the way.”
People living nearby have been invited to a drop-in session so they can find out more and ask questions ahead of a formal opportunity to have their say when a planning application is submitted.