The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Carbon Neutrality has granted development authorization for the Sunnica Energy Farm project. The project, piloted by Sunnica Limited, involves the installation of solar photovoltaic panels and battery storage systems at the Sunnica East and Sunnica West sites, as well as an extension to the Burwell substation for connection to the national grid. This project takes place against a backdrop of political renewal in the UK. Indeed, Labour’s victory heralds a change in the country’s energy policy. Nevertheless, by 2023, Rishi Sunak’s government had invested £22 million to boost the renewable energy sector.
Examination and Validation Process
The application, submitted on November 18, 2021 and accepted for review on December 16, 2021, has undergone rigorous scrutiny by the Planning Inspector. During this period, stakeholders, including the public and statutory authorities, were given the opportunity to present their views and evidence. Recommendations based on this review were forwarded to the Secretary of State on June 28, 2023.
Stakeholder commitments
Local communities, municipal authorities and interested parties were actively involved in reviewing the project. The Reviewing Authority took into account all the contributions and evidence submitted before making its recommendation, thus ensuring a balanced and transparent assessment.
Technical aspects and capabilities
The Sunnica Energy Farm project will generate over 50 megawatts of energy, boosting the capacity of the national grid. The planned infrastructure includes not only solar panels, but also battery storage systems, offering greater flexibility and stability to the power grid.
Background and outlook
This project is the 82nd of 139 energy applications reviewed to date by the Planning Inspector, in accordance with the Planning Act 2008. This authorization is part of a series of approvals aimed at increasing energy capacity and modernizing the country’s electrical infrastructure.
The development of Sunnica Energy Farm represents a significant step forward in the optimization of the national energy mix, while demonstrating the effectiveness of the planning and review procedures in place.
