German Firm Plans To Build Britain’s Biggest Solar Farm
The title of this post, is the same as that as this article on The Times.
These three paragraphs outline the project.
The developers behind a controversial solar power project in Oxfordshire have submitted a planning application for what is thought will be the largest such scheme in western Europe.
The site in Botley West is being developed by Photovolt, a German company, and could generate 840 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough to power about 330,000 homes.
However, the project has sparked a backlash among some local residents, who argue the scheme will blight the landscape.
A map shows the site and it is certainly a large one.
- The Botley West site will cover a total of about 3,200 acres.
- It will pass through 15 villages.
- About 1,235 acres will not be covered with solar panels.
- It has a web site, which gives more information.
- There is also a Stop Botley West web site.
I can certainly understand the opposition.
These are my thoughts.
I Would Add A Battery To The Panels
An added battery would undoubtedly smooth the output of the solar panels. Especially, when the sun is not out to play!
A total capacity of 840 MW is planned for Botley West and in my opinion as a Control Engineer, a sizeable battery is needed.
I would not use a Battery Energy Storage System or BESS based on lithium-ion batteries, as I believe that Highview Power’s liquid air batteries and others offer cost and environmental advantages. But that is one for the accountants and the environmentalists!
I Might Add A Few Appropriately-Sized Wind Turbines To The Farm
In Skegness Wind Turbine Trial To Light Up Pier In UK First, I discuss using small, vertical wind turbines from a Norwegian company called Ventum Dynamics.
This picture shows a Ventum Dynamics turbine on Skegness Pier.
On the Ventum Dynamics web site, there are several pictures of buildings with flat roofs, that have several turbines on each.
Surely, if you’re installing a comprehensive electrical network, then it should be used to collect all the electricity it can.
I believe that Ventum’s turbines could be alternated in a line with trees, so that they merged more into the countryside. Some experiments need to be done.
I Would Also Fit Solar Roofs To Suitable Buildings
Every little helps!
Conclusion
When mixing solar panels and wind turbines into the countryside, you need to be bold and discard preconceived ideas.
The Anonymous Widower 
In a recent post you noted that TfL were looking to partner with a company to use solar panels to contribute towards their massive energy requirements. You suggested making use of all the depot ‘roofs’ to house such panels and it made good sense. I also wrote to TfL urging them to be ‘bold and discard preconceiverd ideas’ by urging them to consider making use of all the reservoirs [particularly in north & west London] to house rowns and rows of floating solar panels. The surface area of this network of reservoirs is massive and to find an additional use for them would surely make commercial sense. The reply I got from TfL was perfunctory and disimissive.
Comment by PJS | November 17, 2024 |
If you gave TfL a couple of million and told them to organise a party for hard-working staff, they’d muck it up.
They couldn’t organise themselves out of a paper bag!
Comment by AnonW | November 17, 2024 |