Locquiers Solar Farm
Our proposal
Opdenergy proposes installing a 15.7 MW solar farm located within open countryside 0.9km south-west of Mitcheldean and 0.7km south-east of Drybrook - within Forest of Dean District Council. The solar farm would be connected to a 33kV substation adjacent to the north and operated by Western Power Distribution.
The predicted capacity is 15.7 megawatts; this generation capacity is enough for 4,300 houses and will save 840,000 tons of CO2 per year for over 30 years. Our solar farms are a small part of the climate change solution contributing to the UK Government's target to archive carbon neutrality in 2050.
We do our utmost to address any concerns raised by the local community, Opdenergy has contacted the local parish council to explain our plan and we are happy to address their questions. This website is for the local community to see our proposal to ask questions and raise any objections. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been impossible to carry out a Public Consultation by a personal meeting.
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Locquiers Public Consultation leaflet
840,000 tonnes of CO2 saved over 30 years.
Equivalent annual energy needs of 4,300 homes.
137,000 megawatts hours supplied each year.
20 hectares of land.
Where is the Site?
The proposed site is the red outline at this map within the administrative area of Forest of Dean District Council.
About opdenergy
Opdenergy is an international group specialising in energy assets production, managing all its phases: development, financing, construction, operation and maintenance. With 807MWp installed capacity and a massive 8GW pipeline with financing agreements with some of Europes largest banks and pension funds, Opdenergy has become an international Tier 1 Independent Power Producer. We have nine years of experience of developing solar PV projects in the UK and a global presence across Europe, North, Central and South America America.
Why are Solar Farms Important?
Solar panels convert the light coming from the sun into electricity. This technology has a large number of benefits; it can enhance the environment increasing biodiversity. For example, when planting native wildflowers, clover and grasses, it can increase insect life, helping boost the small mammal and bird population.
Solar farms require little maintenance and if the site is well selected are also unobtrusive. Solar panels are also the cheapest form of renewable energy and compete directly with gas-fired power stations to sell electricity. Every kilowatt counts toward zero-carbon 2050; this is why we encourage you to support the planning application for this solar farm.
The Governments target?
Global warming is everyone's concern, and we all need to drastically change our way of life to reduce emissions and deforestation, we all have to work together. The governments of European Countries' s are taking action since signing the Paris Climate Change Accord in 2015.
The UK National Infrastructure Committee's target is 65% renewable energy by 2030: every local authority like Forest of Dean Council agreed a motion to recognise climate change emergency on 23rd October 2019. Fortunately, the latest environmental statistics comes with great news, fossil fuels use is declining year by year, but we still have a long way to go 40GW between now and 2030.
Why Here?
Locquiers Farm has been chosen because it has a grid export capacity on-site, it's completely out of sight, the land is used for pasture, and the landowner is willing to lease the land. It is also outside of the following list of sensitivities: flood risk, SSSI, national parks, AONB, heritage sensitive buildings, walks and other archaeological sites and away from residential areas.