Where is the Proposal? Hapsford Solar Farm Proposed Layout The Hapsford Solar Farm is located on land south of Junction 14 of the M56 near Hapsford and lies to the west of the A5117. The site is located within the administrative area of Cheshire West and Chester Council and situated within the North West greenbelt area. The construction of the solar farm is expected to take only four to six months. At the end of the 30 year period of operation, all infrastructure introduced to the site would be dismantled, removed offsite and mostly recycled. The Locality The potential scheme is located on agricultural land consisting of both arable crops and permanent grassland. The site boundaries consist of small trees, hedges and low fences. The site previously formed part of a Ministry of Defence ammunitions store. Constructed during World War II, it was known as Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF) Dunhamon-the-Hill. Four brick buildings are the most visible remains of this former use. These buildings will be retained and the proposed solar farm will not physically impact any of these structures. The proposal comprises of solar panels and would have a maximum installed capacity of 5MW which would produce enough power for the equivalent of over 1,300 UK households*. The panels will be placed in rows running in an east-west orientation across the site and would face southwards for optimum electricity generation. The panels would be mounted on fixed frames at an angle of approximately 25 degrees and would not be more than 2.25 m high. The solar farm would include 6 inverter/transformer houses which would be connected to an onsite substation. The electricity generated would be exported to the national grid, from an onsite substation through a connection to the existing 33/11kV substation using the local 11kV network. The solar farm would assist in meeting the local renewable energy targets and government s objectives to develop a low-carbon economy. *Ofgem Factsheet 96 - Typical Domestic Energy Consumption Figures 70 x 100cm boards.indd 1 20/02/2015 16:15
What have we done so far? Environmental Impact Assessment Screening and scoping requests were submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council in August 2014. The Council confirmed that the development of the solar farm would require an Environmental Impact Assessment, which is currently being completed. Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Assessment Both an archaeological assessment and a cultural heritage assessment have been undertaken. These studies considered buried archaeology and the potential for effects on the setting of any nearby designated heritage assets. Ecological Impact Assessment Soil Assessment An ecological impact assessment has been completed. All likely changes to the biodiversity and habitats arising from the construction or operation of the solar farm were considered. Agricultural land is graded according to its quality and versatility. A soil survey has been completed in order to determine the quality of agricultural land within the footprint of the solar farm. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Flood Risk Assessment A landscape and visual impact assessment has been undertaken to assess the potential effects on landscape character and viewpoints from the surrounding areas. A flood risk assessment considered the potential of the solar farm to change the surface water run-off patterns and increase the risk of any flooding. 70 x 100cm boards.indd 2 20/02/2015 16:15
The Scheme Design Initial Area Considered We initially considered a much larger area of 66 ha for the solar farm but having looked at things such as grid designated areas, flood zones, topography, agricultural land classification and existing infrastructure, we decided to scale the scheme down to 13.2 ha. Ecology and Soil Surveys Data collected during the ecology and soil surveys had a direct impact on the site design. The western fields were excluded from the development due to the proximity of a suitable terrestrial habitat for great crested newts. The soil survey confirmed that no high grade agricultural land is present within the footprint of the solar farm. Timeline: Planning submission Planning consent Construction begins Operation begins Decommissioning Spring 2015 Summer 2015 Q1 2016 Q3 2016 Q3 2046 Design Features 1. Existing hedgerows retained and protected with suitable buffers. 2. Well screened location due to the proximity of by the motorway embankment and existing hedgerows. 3. The solar panels would not be more than 2.25 m high. 5. Ecological Management Plan will be implemented in order to enhance biodiversity and improve wildlife habitats. 6. Minimal activity once operational. 7. No moving parts or lighting will be required. 8. A 2 metre high deer fence will be provided for site security. 4. The existing farm tracks and gaps in the existing hedgerows used to minimise environmental impact. 70 x 100cm boards.indd 3 20/02/2015 16:15
What is Solar PV? Solar PV technology collects and converts solar radiation directly into electricity. PV technology is commercially proven and large multi-megawatt generating plants have been operating since the 1990s. The PV cells are made from layers of semi-conducting material, usually silicon. When light shines on the cell it creates an electric field across the layers. The stronger the sunshine, the more electricity is produced. Groups of cells are mounted together in panels or modules and the electrical energy generated is collected and exported to the National Grid network. The panels generate direct current (DC) that is converted to alternating current (AC) to be used by the electricity grid. Solar PV panels need very little maintenance. It is important to keep the panels relatively clean and make sure shadows from trees and other objects don t shade the panels. Why Renewable Energy? Climate Change Fossil Fuels Price Volatility Climate change is the long-term change in average weather conditions, including temperature, precipitation and wind. Fossil fuels were formed millions of years ago when plants, animals and other creatures died and were buried under the earth. Their remains gradually changed over the years due to heat and pressure in the earth s crust and formed to coal, oil and gas. Carbon sequestered in these stores is released upon using them as fuel. This contributes towards climate change. Solar power and other renewable resources can help insulate the UK from some of the world energy price volatility. According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC), which is comprised of the world s leading scientific experts in the field of climate change, our climate is undergoing dramatic changes as the direct result of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activity. One of the primary activities associated with the production of GHG s is the burning of fossil fuels for energy generation. The UK has a legally binding commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 60 per cent of 1990 levels by 2030. 70 x 100cm boards.indd 4 Solar power would help to secure the UK energy supply and reduce the need to rely on imported fuels and energy. Fossil fuels have long served a s the main source of energy for almost all practical purposes, and their use has increased exponentially since the industrial revolution. Fossil fuels are inherently a limited resource and at some point in the not too distant future their supply will run out. 20/02/2015 16:15
Landscape and Visual Impact Visual screening from woodland and hedgerows, together with the largely flat nature of the topography on site, provide effective screening for the solar farm. The potential impact of the solar farm on nearby residential properties will be very limited, with minimal localised views expected from Maryburgh Caravan Park and a small number of properties in Dunham-onthe-Hill. Within the study area, more elevated locations may also see the solar farm and experience slight adverse visual effects. For road users there will be no direct views of the solar farm. For users of footpaths and other rights of way, within 2km of the Site, including the North Cheshire Way and the National Cycle Network Route, viewsof the solar farm would be screened by vegetation. Users of local recreational facilities, such as Helsby Golf Club, Manley Mere and Helsby Quarry Nature Reserve are unlikely to see the scheme. The visual screening afforded by the woodland and hedgerows in and around the site together with vegetation and landform screening in the wider area means that the solar farm would not substantially affect the character of the landscape character areas or landscape type that the solar farm is situated within. 70 x 100cm boards.indd 5 20/02/2015 16:15
Ecology As well as surveying the site over the past year we have obtained published biological Hedgerows Existing hedgerows will be retained within the site and enhanced through the botanical improvement of the grass headlands / arable margins. A 4-5m buffer around the hedges will ensure the continued functioning of the hedges. records for the area. Great Crested Newt Suitable terrestrial habitat for great crested newt is only present within the sites hedgerows and areas of unmanaged grassland and scrub. The intensively managed arable fields which the majority of the scheme will occupy represent unsuitable habitats for great crested newt. Great crested newt was not recorded within the area considered for site selection during any of the surveys. Badger No badger setts have been recorded within the site. The hedgerows, which offer suitable habitats for foraging and sett creation will be retained. Prior to the construction of the solar farm, a precautionary survey of the site for setts and evidence of badger activity will be carried out. The results of the survey will be used to determine the need for and location of a small number of badger gates /access points around the site. Birds The site supports a typical assemblage of widespread farmland birds. Potential impact on breeding birds would not be significant; furthermore the provision of grassland throughout the fields and along the base of the hedgerows would enhance the area for ground nesting birds. Reptiles The retention of all hedgerows and a 5m buffer of suitable habitat will prevent any impacts on reptiles. 70 x 100cm boards.indd 6 20/02/2015 16:15
Environmental Considerations Flood Risk Assessment Soils and Agriculture The site is located within fluvial Flood Zone 1 (land having a less than 1 in 1,000 annual probability of river or sea flooding). The vulnerability class of the land required for the solar farm is Less Vulnerable and therefore the development in this area complies with the relevent planning guidance. As the panels will not create impermeable areas, any risk of erosion due to concentration of runoff will be mitigated by the cultivated soil and developed grassland. Any rainfall intercepted by the panels will run off onto the surrounding ground and will follow the same drainage routes as pre-development runoff (i.e. discharge directly onto the ground and runoff or soakaway as greenfield runoff). The soil survey and associated ALC calculations has identified the ALC sub grade 3b is present within the solar farm. The solar farm will be developed as an Agri-Voltaic development and will allow the land to increase in species and biodiversity during the 30 years of operations. Over this time, the content of organic matter in the soil will increase. The soil is likely to be more fertile when it is returned to agricultural land use, after decommissioning of the solar farm. Archaeology Glint and Glare Assessment The application area contains a number of brick buildings which formed part of the Dunham on the Hill Ammunition Store. These are listed in the Historic Environment Record as a non-designated site. In addition to the stores, there are 10 Scheduled Monuments, three Grade I Listed Buildings and five Grade II* Listed Buildings within 5 km radius around the site. The viewshed analysis identified that a number of additional heritage assets are located within the theoretical Zone of Visual Impact. Analysis of the views from these heritage assets confirmed that, because of the intervening buildings and trees, no meaningful visibility could be established between any of these monuments and the solar farm. Consequently, the proposed development is not considered to result in an adverse impact to the settings of these designated heritage assets. Solar panels are designed to absorb light and the reflectivity of solar panels is considerably less than many other common materials seen in the built or natural environment. For example water bodies such as reservoirs, the sea and lakes have very similar reflective properties to solar panels and are common features in the landscape, as are other manmade objects such as windows, car windscreens and glasshouses. A glint assessment study has been carried out for the proposed solar farm using computer modelling to theoretically estimate the potential for glare glint to be visible from individual properties and nearby roads around the site. The glare and glint impacts have been estimated to be infrequent events of low intensity and even if they are visible, they are not expected to be a cause of substantial nuisance to residents or motorists. Consideration has also been given to potential impacts on aviation in the vicinity. No impacts are expected at John Lennon Airport or Hawarden Airport, nor at the unlicensed airstrip at Waverton. 70 x 100cm boards.indd 7 20/02/2015 16:15
Peel Energy Peel Energy is at the forefront of delivering low carbon energy for the UK and believes that a mix of low-carbon technologies is the only way to meet the UK s growing energy needs. We have a balanced portfolio in generation or development including wind, tidal and hydro power, and biomass. Peel Energy is a division of The Peel Group, one of the leading infrastructure, real estate and investment enterprises in the UK. Our diverse network of businesses ranges from ports to airports; land to leisure; media to hotels; wind farms to shopping centres, and a portfolio of investments in major public companies. Scout Moor Windfarm 70 x 100cm boards.indd 8 20/02/2015 16:15