May 1, 2014 10.13 am This story is over 118 months old

Extension planned for solar farm near Lincoln

Going green: A local green energy company has announced plans to extend its solar farm by an extra 56,000 panels – enough to power 3,500 homes in West Lindsey.
Green energy company Freewatt have announced plans to expand their solar farm to 14MW in West Lindsey.

A local green energy company has announced plans to extend its solar farm by another 56,000 panels – enough to power 3,500 homes in West Lindsey.

Freewatt hopes to grow its existing solar farm to 14MW by adding to the array it already has next to its headquarters in Stow.

The project will be constructed on 63 acres of land near Danes Farm and will represent an investment of more than £12 million.

The clean energy generated will amount to a carbon saving of 7,300 tonnes per year and power nearly one out of every ten homes in West Lindsey.

The company aims to enhance the ecology of the five fields pinpointed for the solar farm with the addition of landscaping and wild flower planting.

Sheep will also be used to graze the land after the panels have been installed.

All existing hedgerows will be retained, plus extra ones planted and the height allowed to grow to 2.5 metres to ensure they obscure any views of the solar farm – with panels only reaching 2.2 metres in height.

Freewatt plans to use local companies and workers for the construction of the project, likely to take around 14 weeks.

Plans will be lodged with West Lindsey District Council, and are due to be considered in the summer.

Freewatt has a growing reputation as a regional solar power installer. It has fitted solar power at the Epic Centre at Lincolnshire Showground, Pennells Garden Centre, schools, fire stations, recycling centres, farms and agricultural businesses across the county and beyond.

Freewatt CEO Julian Patrick said: “This is a considerable investment in the infrastructure of the county and will ensure the area continues to make great strides in providing green energy for the future.

“Freewatt is owned by locals, staffed by locals and still based in the area and we are fiercely proud of the work we are doing to provide the county with clean energy and a green economy.

“This project will be another important step towards making the county greener as well as providing valuable work for local companies. Over its life the project will bring millions of pounds of Whitehall payments into the county.”