How does Solar PV work?
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) energy is the most promising and popular form of solar energy. It works by converting sunlight into electricity. Sunlight is made of photons which are small particles of energy. These photons are absorbed by and pass through the material of a solar cell or solar photovoltaic panel. The photons agitate the electrons found in the material of the photovoltaic cell. As they begin to move (or are dislodged), they are routed into a current. This is electricity – the movement of electrons along a path. These electrons are then conducted through a wire to the grid.
Benefits of Solar PV
Ecology & Biodiversity
Our objective is always to mitigate any potential impacts on wildlife and habitats. PV developments encourage biodiversity as they are tranquil, largely undisturbed sites that do not require heavy machinery or intensive farming for maintenance over the 45-year lifetime of the development. Existing hedgerows and vegetation are retained for the most part and additional site-specific measures will be included in a Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) for the site. These measures combined enable local flora & fauna to flourish in the surrounding area thus increasing biodiversity.
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Local & National Energy Targets
The UK is undergoing a major change in the way it meets its energy needs. In 2019, the Government legislated to commit the country to achieving ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2050 in comparison to emissions at 1990 levels. To meet the national need caused by these trends we need to adapt our infrastructure to offer clean, low carbon sources of energy generation that are fit for the future.
In order to meet the emission targets, set by the Paris Agreement in 2015 and the most recent climate change conference, COP26, the UK has a responsibility to increase the amount of renewable energy generated power available and reduce the UK’s dependence on fossil fuels. The COP26 targets outline the need to invest in renewable energy now in order to ensure that the target of global net-zero emissions can be achieved by 2050.
On a national scale, the UK Government is working towards hitting goals set out in the Sixth Carbon Budget (2021), which is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 78% by 2035. On a local scale, the Cherwell District Council declared a climate emergency in 2019.
The Development will generate electricity with a very low carbon footprint and help the UK accelerate decarbonisation and achieve the energy targets set at both the national and local scale. Overall, it will contribute to the UK’s efforts to reduce emissions and combat climate change.
– Policy ESD5 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2015 states that renewable and low carbon energy provision will be supported wherever adverse impacts can be addressed satisfactorily. The potential local, environmental, economic and community benefits of renewable energy schemes will be a material consideration in determining planning applications.
– Policy ESD 2: Energy Hierarchy and Allowable Solutions sets out the ‘energy hierarchy’ promoted by Cherwell District Council in seeking to achieve carbon emission reductions. It is as follows:
Public Consultation Process
Engaging with our host communities will be vital to the success of this carbon-saving facility. We would like to hear your views on the proposal and how it might benefit not only the wider environment but its immediate surroundings.
We would like to invite you to complete the survey provided on this website. This will help us understand your views on renewable energy and will give you a chance to suggest how the development can best be made to work for the good of the community.
CLOSE
Site Location
The Site is located in Oxfordshire, approximately 4km north of Banbury and in a rural area with several small surrounding settlements including Horley 1.5km west, Shotteswell 1.5km north and Great Bourton 2.5km east. The Site is on agricultural land at the Hanwell Estate, Hanwell, Banbury, OX17 1HG and is within the administrative boundary of Cherwell District Council.
Size of the Site
The size of the site is 80.4 ha / 199 acres with areas of landscaping and enhancement have been designed in.
Temporary Development
Planning permission is being sought for the development with an operational period of 45 years.
Site Access
The site will make use of an existing agricultural access off the Warwick Road/ B4100. Access through the site will follow existing routes around the fields with internal tracks kept to a minimum.
Construction Period, Construction & Operational Traffic
During the construction period, which is estimated to take approximately 12-16 weeks, delivery vehicles and construction staff will make vehicular trips to the site. Most of the deliveries will be undertaken by HGV. It is envisaged that over the busiest construction period there will be an average of 6 HGV movements (3 arrivals and 3 departures) per day. During the 45-year operational life of the project it is envisaged that in addition to average traffic there will be, on average, 8 vehicle movements (car/van) per month related to the ongoing operation and maintenance of the installation.
Decommissioning the site
At the end of the proposed 45-year operational period, the solar farm and its ancillary equipment will be decommissioned, dismantled and removed and the site fully reinstated to the satisfaction of the local planning authority.
It is estimated that decommissioning of the proposed Hanwell Solar PV Farm will take approximately 4 months to complete. Subject to best practice at the time, it is anticipated that decommissioning will involve:
Generating Capacity & CO2 Savings
The Solar Park would have a capacity of approximately 50 MW, enough low carbon electricity to power approximately 15,657 homes in and around Banbury every year.
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What equipment will be used on site?
The following components are proposed for this solar farm:
Solar Panels
The proposed solar farm will be made up, principally, of dark blue or black solar panels. Each panel will be approximately 2.2 x 1.3m. The solar panels will be arranged in a series of rows with a row spacing of 2m-8m, up to a height of 3.2m at the highest point and tilted southwards at an angle of, typically, 10 – 30 degrees from horizontal.
Inverters
Inverters are required to convert the direct current generated by the photovoltaic modules to grid compatible alternating current (AC). There will be approximately 10 inverters on the site. The inverters are typically 12.2 m long x 2.5 m wide x 3 m high with a concrete base. To see photos of inverters, please visit the photos section.
Grid Connection
The proposed solar farm will require a Distribution and client-side substation to connect to the distribution network via a transformer.
Access Track
A 3.5 m wide permeable access track will be installed to provide access to the inverters and the substation compound.
Fencing
A 2.4m timber post and wire deer proof fence will be erected around the site for health, safety and insurance purposes. Matching gates will be provided at key access points at the site.
CCTV
A series of CCTV cameras will be installed throughout the site. The CCTV arrangements are based on infrared technology so no lighting will be required at night-time.
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Noise
Each inverter station will contain a small fan that is similar to a domestic bathroom fan in both size & rating, these would be away for sensitive noise receptors and the project will be complaint with the noise limits set by the Council.
Emissions
No greenhouse gas emissions will be emitted by the development.
Landscape
A footpath (FP239/3/10) runs across the centre of the Site, from northwest to southeast, while another footpath (FP239/2/10) runs from north to south along the western Site boundary. The footpaths will be incorporated in the design of the Development so that the rights of way are retained. A full landscape appraisal will form part of the planning application. Appropriate boundary planting, together with the retention and protection of existing hedgerows would soften the boundaries of the site to assist the projects integration into the landscape. Trees will be retained as part of the development where possible.
Is there an increased risk of flooding around solar farm sites?
There is no significant increase in surface water runoff and therefore no significant increase in the risk of flooding as little impermeable hard surfacing is required. The majority of the solar farm remains open grassland as the features are not altered in any way. The solar farm infrastructure does not affect runoff volumes, with the use of driplines along the face of panels evenly dispersing surface water across the underlying grounds. In addition, the panels are raised on a pre-fabricated framework on screw-driven legs, so only approximately 5% of the ground surface is utilised.
CLOSE
How does Solar PV work?
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) energy is the most promising and popular form of solar energy. It works by converting sunlight into electricity. Sunlight is made of photons which are small particles of energy. These photons are absorbed by and pass through the material of a solar cell or solar photovoltaic panel. The photons agitate the electrons found in the material of the photovoltaic cell. As they begin to move (or are dislodged), they are routed into a current. This is electricity – the movement of electrons along a path. These electrons are then conducted through a wire to the grid.
Benefits of Solar PV
Ecology & Biodiversity
Our objective is always to mitigate any potential impacts on wildlife and habitats. PV developments encourage biodiversity as they are tranquil, largely undisturbed sites that do not require heavy machinery or intensive farming for maintenance over the 45-year lifetime of the development. Existing hedgerows and vegetation are retained for the most part and additional site-specific measures will be included in a Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) for the site. These measures combined enable local flora & fauna to flourish in the surrounding area thus increasing biodiversity.
CLOSE
Local & National Energy Targets
The UK is undergoing a major change in the way it meets its energy needs. In 2019, the Government legislated to commit the country to achieving ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2050 in comparison to emissions at 1990 levels. To meet the national need caused by these trends we need to adapt our infrastructure to offer clean, low carbon sources of energy generation that are fit for the future.
In order to meet the emission targets, set by the Paris Agreement in 2015 and the most recent climate change conference, COP26, the UK has a responsibility to increase the amount of renewable energy generated power available and reduce the UK’s dependence on fossil fuels. The COP26 targets outline the need to invest in renewable energy now in order to ensure that the target of global net-zero emissions can be achieved by 2050.
On a national scale, the UK Government is working towards hitting goals set out in the Sixth Carbon Budget (2021), which is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 78% by 2035. On a local scale, the Cherwell District Council declared a climate emergency in 2019.
The Development will generate electricity with a very low carbon footprint and help the UK accelerate decarbonisation and achieve the energy targets set at both the national and local scale. Overall, it will contribute to the UK’s efforts to reduce emissions and combat climate change.
– Policy ESD5 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2015 states that renewable and low carbon energy provision will be supported wherever adverse impacts can be addressed satisfactorily. The potential local, environmental, economic and community benefits of renewable energy schemes will be a material consideration in determining planning applications.
– Policy ESD 2: Energy Hierarchy and Allowable Solutions sets out the ‘energy hierarchy’ promoted by Cherwell District Council in seeking to achieve carbon emission reductions. It is as follows:
Public Consultation Process
Engaging with our host communities will be vital to the success of this carbon-saving facility. We would like to hear your views on the proposal and how it might benefit not only the wider environment but its immediate surroundings.
We would like to invite you to complete the survey provided on this website. This will help us understand your views on renewable energy and will give you a chance to suggest how the development can best be made to work for the good of the community.
CLOSE
Site Location
The Site is located in Oxfordshire, approximately 4km north of Banbury and in a rural area with several small surrounding settlements including Horley 1.5km west, Shotteswell 1.5km north and Great Bourton 2.5km east. The Site is on agricultural land at the Hanwell Estate, Hanwell, Banbury, OX17 1HG and is within the administrative boundary of Cherwell District Council.
Size of the Site
The size of the site is 80.4 ha / 199 acres with areas of landscaping and enhancement have been designed in.
Temporary Development
Planning permission is being sought for the development with an operational period of 45 years.
Site Access
The site will make use of an existing agricultural access off the Warwick Road/ B4100. Access through the site will follow existing routes around the fields with internal tracks kept to a minimum.
Construction Period, Construction & Operational Traffic
During the construction period, which is estimated to take approximately 12-16 weeks, delivery vehicles and construction staff will make vehicular trips to the site. Most of the deliveries will be undertaken by HGV. It is envisaged that over the busiest construction period there will be an average of 6 HGV movements (3 arrivals and 3 departures) per day. During the 45-year operational life of the project it is envisaged that in addition to average traffic there will be, on average, 8 vehicle movements (car/van) per month related to the ongoing operation and maintenance of the installation.
Decommissioning the site
At the end of the proposed 45-year operational period, the solar farm and its ancillary equipment will be decommissioned, dismantled and removed and the site fully reinstated to the satisfaction of the local planning authority.
It is estimated that decommissioning of the proposed Hanwell Solar PV Farm will take approximately 4 months to complete. Subject to best practice at the time, it is anticipated that decommissioning will involve:
Generating Capacity & CO2 Savings
The Solar Park would have a capacity of approximately 50 MW, enough low carbon electricity to power approximately 15,657 homes in and around Banbury every year.
CLOSE
What equipment will be used on site?
The following components are proposed for this solar farm:
Solar Panels
The proposed solar farm will be made up, principally, of dark blue or black solar panels. Each panel will be approximately 2.2 x 1.3m. The solar panels will be arranged in a series of rows with a row spacing of 2m-8m, up to a height of 3.2m at the highest point and tilted southwards at an angle of, typically, 10 – 30 degrees from horizontal.
Inverters
Inverters are required to convert the direct current generated by the photovoltaic modules to grid compatible alternating current (AC). There will be approximately 10 inverters on the site. The inverters are typically 12.2 m long x 2.5 m wide x 3 m high with a concrete base. To see photos of inverters, please visit the photos section.
Grid Connection
The proposed solar farm will require a Distribution and client-side substation to connect to the distribution network via a transformer.
Access Track
A 3.5 m wide permeable access track will be installed to provide access to the inverters and the substation compound.
Fencing
A 2.4m timber post and wire deer proof fence will be erected around the site for health, safety and insurance purposes. Matching gates will be provided at key access points at the site.
CCTV
A series of CCTV cameras will be installed throughout the site. The CCTV arrangements are based on infrared technology so no lighting will be required at night-time.
CLOSE
Noise
Each inverter station will contain a small fan that is similar to a domestic bathroom fan in both size & rating, these would be away for sensitive noise receptors and the project will be complaint with the noise limits set by the Council.
Emissions
No greenhouse gas emissions will be emitted by the development.
Landscape
A footpath (FP239/3/10) runs across the centre of the Site, from northwest to southeast, while another footpath (FP239/2/10) runs from north to south along the western Site boundary. The footpaths will be incorporated in the design of the Development so that the rights of way are retained. A full landscape appraisal will form part of the planning application. Appropriate boundary planting, together with the retention and protection of existing hedgerows would soften the boundaries of the site to assist the projects integration into the landscape. Trees will be retained as part of the development where possible.
Is there an increased risk of flooding around solar farm sites?
There is no significant increase in surface water runoff and therefore no significant increase in the risk of flooding as little impermeable hard surfacing is required. The majority of the solar farm remains open grassland as the features are not altered in any way. The solar farm infrastructure does not affect runoff volumes, with the use of driplines along the face of panels evenly dispersing surface water across the underlying grounds. In addition, the panels are raised on a pre-fabricated framework on screw-driven legs, so only approximately 5% of the ground surface is utilised.
CLOSE