Ketton solar power plant could see year-end start, UK

A new solar power plant to be built on land owned by Hanson Cement could be up-and-running by year-end, with over a third of its power destined to supply the UK cement producer's Ketton works.

Lark Energy, based in Market Deeping, has been granted planning permission to create the farm on land near Pit Lane, Ketton, local news reported. If a condition on drainage is approved by Rutland County Council, the firm will be able to start installing the 38,544 panels.

Once complete, the solar farm will generate about 8MW of electricity. The land is owned by Hanson Cement, which would take 35 per cent of the energy produced by the farm. The rest would be fed into the National Grid.

Hanson Cement communications manager David Weeks said the site had been split into two sections and preliminary work on the first had already begun.??He added: “We are hoping to have it up and running by the end of the year. It’s full steam ahead.”

The solar farm will have a lifespan of 25-30 years. It will be built by Lark Energy but owned by a separate investor. Mr Weeks added: “The beauty of the site is that, unlike where other renewables have been proposed around the area, it is well hidden. “The panels will be invisible to people but will be generating a vast amount of electricity.”