TWO solar farms in St Mary could generate enough electricity to power almost 1,200 Jersey homes, if they are approved.
Jersey Electricity is proposing to install two solar arrays in fields off Rue d’Olive and Rue de la Hougue Mauger, both of which are near La Mare Wine Estate.
The ground-based solar installations would cover approximately 68 vergées and have a combined total generation capacity of 8MWp.
Plans for Jersey’s first ground-mounted solar installation in St Clement were approved earlier this year, and a second application at Sorel was recently submitted to Planning.
In total, JE wants to get the go-ahead for six applications for solar arrays, with the aspiration of delivering 25MW of renewable energy, equivalent to approximately 5% of local annual demand. It is now hoping to gain the feedback of St Mary residents on its latest plan.
JE chief executive Chris Ambler said: ‘In an environment of increasing energy costs, finding new ways to cost-effectively diversify Jersey’s sources of electricity is becoming increasingly important, and we believe community-based ground-mounted solar photovoltaics has an important role to play.
We hope that St Mary parishioners will take the opportunity to learn more about ground-mount solar and come and view the site plans. Our team will be on hand to answer questions and listen to feedback.
‘Engaging with the local community on these solar developments is important to JE and will help to shape the planning submission, so I would encourage people to come along, find out more and share their ideas.’
JE explained that after sites were identified for potential ground-based solar installations, their teams collaborated with local ecologists and agriculturists to ensure the fields could be maintained for agricultural use, and were certain that the installation would enhance existing habitats.
JE said ground-based solar units were temporary structures that, unlike other developments, allowed fields to be completely returned back to their original state at the end of the array’s life.
The company confirmed that the land would continue to be used for farming purposes, such as grazing livestock or growing crops under the panels.
Mr Ambler explained: ‘Ground-based solar is a relatively new technology for Jersey, with many benefits for the local community. We understand concerns about agricultural land being taken away, which is why we are working hard to find new innovative ways of maintaining ongoing agricultural use.
‘Livestock can continue to graze, and more sensitive crops can be grown that fare better under the shade of the panels. We are proposing using bifacial panels, so any light reflected off the ground or surrounding surfaces can also be absorbed behind the panel, generating more energy with less land.
‘Partnering with the community, local businesses and landowners to generate sustainable energy is a win for all Islanders and plays an important role in securing affordable and secure electricity for the long term.’
JE’s community consultation on the proposed solar installations will be open between 10am and 8pm on
Tuesday 11 July at St Mary’s Parish Hall.
