The site comprises approximately 1,130 hectares (including mitigation and enhancement areas). The site is located within the administrative boundary of Breckland Council.

National level – Net Zero and energy security 

The UK has set ambitious climate change targets to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to ensure that the energy supply remains secure, reliable, and affordable. Together with legally binding commitments such as these, the UK Government has further set out how the deployment of renewable technologies such as solar will be accelerated in the Government’s Make Britain a clean energy superpower (2024).

This means increasing the UK’s solar capacity three-fold by 2030, taking the total generation capacity 70GW. Green Hill Solar Farm would contribute towards achieving this by helping provide a reliable source of affordable energy.

The Droves Solar Farm could generate up to 500 megawatts (MWac), enough to power approximately 115,000 homes annually. The battery energy storage will help store surplus energy and supply it to the National Grid when it is needed. This would become a substantial source of clean energy for the country.

The UK has set ambitious and legally binding climate change targets to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This is also to ensure that the energy supply remains secure, reliable, and affordable.

Local level – Breckland Council

Breckland Council declared a climate emergency in September 2019. Since then, the Council has committed to reducing the level of greenhouse gases within the district. It is striving to achieve net zero as an organisation by 2035 and has also developed a Sustainability Strategy (2021-2035).

The Droves Solar Farm could generate up to 500 megawatts (MWac), providing a substantial source of renewable electricity for the region and country, and allowing Breckland Council to make a vital contribution to the UK’s net zero targets.

In order to meet our net zero and climate change targets, we need BESS to store surplus energy generated by renewables for when it is needed. National Grid estimates that over 35.5 GWh of BESS will be required to meet the UK’s net zero target by 2050.  The BESS proposed at The Droves Solar Farm would provide storage for up to 500 MW of electricity.

In the Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1), government’s emerging policy position is in favour of BESS, and they have said: “Storage has a key role to play in achieving net zero and providing flexibility to the energy system, so that high volumes of low carbon power, heat and transport can be integrated.” 

We are aiming to submit the application to PINS in Winter 2025. Further details about the project timeline will be provided in due course.

The site is considered a ‘temporary’ development, meaning it would be decommissioned after a set period of 60 years and returned to its original use.

The Environmental Statement will assess the proposal as temporary and take into account the need to replace equipment during its operational lifetime.

We are committed to working closely with the community, to ensure those near the solar farm also see tangible benefits locally.

We will ensure, wherever possible, local contractors and suppliers have the opportunity to become part of The Droves Solar Farm. Most of the employment and contractor opportunities will likely be available during the construction phase of the project, if the solar farm is granted planning permission.

There will be multiple opportunities for local businesses and employees to register their interest in working with us from as early as the planning stage.

We are also currently gathering ideas from local community groups and politically elected representatives on how we can contribute funding to projects and initiatives in the area, including a potential community benefit fund.