A new solar farm near Taunton which could power up to 10,500 homes could be operational by late-2027.
Novus Renewable Services Ltd. secured planning permission from Somerset Council in January 2024 to build a new solar installation at Preston Farm in the hamlet of Preston Bowyer, near Milverton.
The project is now being taken forward by Uniper, a Germany company who secured the contract to provide power from the site to the National Grid in the government’s most recent auction of renewable energy contracts.
The company and its UK partner Innova have now confirmed that construction on the new ‘Preston solar farm’ will begin in early-2027, with the facility expected to be up and running by the end of that year.
The solar farm will be built north of the existing farm buildings, with access from the B3227 which links Taunton and Wiveliscombe.
Once connected to the National Grid around one kilometre south of the main road, it will be able to generate around 28.8MWp of electricity – enough to power up to 10,500 homes across Somerset.
The site will be operational for 40 years, with sheep being allowed to graze during its operation and the land being returned to full agricultural use after 2064 (though its operation could be extended under future planning applications).
Councillor Mike Rigby (who represents the adjoining Lydeard division) contended that the solar farm would have a minute impact on residents’ lives compared to recent house-building.
Speaking in January 2024, he said: “As we sit here, more than half of our electricity is being provided by renewable resources.
“In order to fulfil the aims of our climate emergency, we’ll need a lot more than that. I think we need a really good reason to refuse new energy generation in our area.
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“I’ve had several solar arrays built in my division, and the effects have been fairly negligible compared to 173 new houses being built on the edge of my village [Bishop’s Lydeard]. I think this strikes the right balance.”
Further solar farms are expected to be delivered on agricultural land across Somerset in the coming years to meet the government’s goals for energy security and low-carbon power generation.
Novus Renewable Services Ltd. secured permission in June 2024 to create a solar farm at Ham Farm on White Street in Ham, near the Taunton waste water treatment plant.
The Planning Inspectorate is expected to rule in the spring on whether a similar facility can be build on Chard Lane in Wayford near the Somerset-Dorset border, following a public inquiry in early-February.
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