Landowners and developers remain keen to press ahead with solar farm schemes in the South West despite mixed messages from the government, a national property consultancy reports.
Robert Smith (pictured) of Bruton Knowles claims the Government has ‘pulled the rug out too early’ on renewable energy initiatives, after Chancellor George Osborne announced in his recent Budget that the exemption from paying the climate change levy (CCL) previously offered to renewables companies would be scrapped. In addition investors will see a significant cut in the tax breaks they are offered for these types of projects.
Yet despite this, Mr Smith believes that enthusiasm for renewable developments remains high, dispelling fears that the UK will not be able to meet environmental targets set down by the EU.
He says; ““The measures outlined in the Budget have left many people wondering whether the Government has pulled the rug too early on the solar farm industry.
“But the fact that three heavyweight solar panel projects have been brought forward in recent weeks suggests developers in the South West have not lost their enthusiasm for renewable energy projects.
“Despite a perceived lack of suitable space coming forward developers are continuing to identify ever-bigger sites in an area which has already seen a great deal of investment into renewables.”
As with many commercial developments in the UK at present, the renewables sector has attracted a great deal of attention from overseas investors – one of whom is responsible for one of the projects cited by Mr Smith. An unnamed German-owned global energy concern has acquired the former World War II Wroughton Airfield, and intends to install a solar farm capable of powering up to 12,000 homes on the 165 acre site.
In addition, energy firm Big60Million is currently attempting to bring forward a facility near Cirencester, installing solar panels equivalent to the size of 57 football pitches on the 102 acre site. Finally, an unnamed investor has snapped up Mapperton Farm in Dorset with a view to creating a solar site capable of generating enough electricity to power 6,344 homes – although so far 650 local residents and campaigners have lodged objections to this plan.
Mr Smith concludes; “The UK has a binding EU target to generate 15 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
“It was encouraging to see that renewable energy supplies hit new peaks this month providing around 40 per cent of the UK’s needs for a short period one particularly sunny (and windy) Saturday afternoon!
“As the Budget demonstrated, renewable energy remains something of a moving feast, but despite these uncertainties this latest batch of projects underlines the fundamental confidence not to mention potential of renewable industries across the South West.”
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