The UK government has given planning consent to the up to 350-MW Cleve Hill Subsidy-free solar storage complex based in North Kent.
The unsubsidised project was proposed by Cleve Hill Solar Park Ltd, a joint venture by UK solar developer Hive Energy and its partner Wirsol Energy Ltd. Alok Sharma, the UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy issued the approval, which covers the scheme’s photovoltaic (PV) and storage components and the connection infrastructure.
The Cleve Hill solar farm and battery storage system will be based near Faversham and Whitstable will on the North Kent Coast. Once it is up and running, it is predicted to provide over 91,000 homes with electricity. Construction on the project could start as soon as early 2021. After this, the solar farm and battery storage system could be up and running by 2023, according to the Guardian.
The initial planning application for the £450 million project was lodged in 2018. The planning Inspectorate submitted its recommendation for the scheme to the Secretary of State early this year.
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