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PLANS have been lodged for a 13.5-hectare solar farm at Hunterston capable of generating around 5.2MWp of renewable electricity, equal to the size of around 19 football pitches.
Greenwheel Electric Ltd has applied to North Ayrshire Council for full planning permission to construct and operate the solar PV array on Plot 16 at Hunterston PARC, north of North Kilruskin and east of the railway line between Fairlie and West Kilbride.
It is one of two planning applications being submitted by Greenwheel, with the other being for around 15 ultra-rapid EV and HGV charging bays, as well as facilities including accessible toilets, Wi-Fi, meeting space, shops offering local products and an outdoor area with seating and a play area, which has featured at recent pre-consultation events in the area.
The solar farm development would include ground-mounted solar panels, a battery energy storage system (BESS), inverters, a substation, access tracks, fencing, CCTV and landscaping and biodiversity measures.
Around four battery storage units are anticipated as part of the plans, while approximately 17 CCTV columns could be installed across the site.
The land is predominantly brownfield and includes derelict and decommissioned railway infrastructure as well as an overhead conveyor system formerly used to transport coal from the Hunterston terminal jetty to railway sidings.
The nearest home is around 100 metres west of the site and is separated from it by the operational railway and woodland.
Fairlie is around 1.7km to the north, while West Kilbride is approximately 2.5km to the south.
Documents submitted with the application state that the development would operate for 40 years, after which the infrastructure would be removed and the site restored.
A screening request was previously submitted to North Ayrshire Council to determine whether a full environmental impact assessment would be necessary.
Greenwheel Electric have submitted two planning applications for Hunterston, including an Electric Vehicle Charging Hub (Image: Greenwheel Electric)
The council concluded in May that the development was unlikely to result in a significant environmental impact and that an EIA would therefore not be required.
Other changes following environmental assessments and community consultation include a five-metre setback from the live railway, buffers around overhead electricity lines, ditches and cliff edges, and measures aimed at limiting tree loss.
Solar panels would reach a maximum height of around three metres, with approximately four metres between rows.
A glint and glare assessment has also influenced their positioning because of the site’s proximity to the railway.
The panels would generally face south but would be positioned to reduce potential impacts on train drivers, passengers and railway signals.
The applicant says landscape and visual effects would be “localised and limited”, with native scrub planting proposed along the western boundary and areas surrounding the development to be planted with species-rich grassland, wildflowers and meadow grass.
The site’s proximity to the A78 has also been examined as part of construction traffic planning.
The preferred route for HGVs would approach from the north via the A78 and Reservoir Road, with the applicant saying this would reduce or avoid heavy vehicles travelling across a railway overbridge.
Greenwheel Electric says the solar farm would support the future development of Hunterston PARC and contribute towards Scotland’s transition to a low-carbon energy system.
Its design statement concludes that technical and environmental assessments show the development could be delivered “without leading to unacceptable levels of environmental effects”.
Both applications will now be considered by North Ayrshire Council.
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