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Our Proposal

The proposed site is located three miles to the east of Luton,
situated at postcode LU2 8PU, OS Reference TL 139227.

Wandon End Map

The site is close to local demand users, including Luton Airport and the Vauxhall Luton factory, and also adjacent to the proposed 2,100 residential housing development (east of Luton), each of which provide potential offtake options for the renewable energy generated at Wandon End Solar. 

The proposed development comprises the construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of a renewable energy generating project. The proposed development will include solar PV arrays and on-site energy storage, together with associated infrastructure and an underground cable connection to the grid.

Timescales

Evolution Power submitted a planning application in December 2022.

If the project is consented, construction work would take approximately six to nine months.

Planning process

  • Extensive Environmental Impact Assessment studies, including ecology, archaeology, heritage, flood risk, visual impact, glint/glare, noise and traffic management
  • Engagement with North Herts planning department and other statutory consultees
  • Public exhibition and community consultation
  • Final scheme design, incorporating feedback
  • Submission of the planning application


Project Benefits

To meet national climate change targets, it is broadly expected that demand for electricity will significantly increase, with some commentators suggesting a 2-3x increase in demand as the country transitions to electric vehicles and electrical heating.  At the same time existing power generation sources using fossil fuels will be phased out.  There will be no coal generation post 2025 and new investment in gas plant is not anticipated.   

The project will be able to export up to 49.9MWe of renewable electricity, which would supply approximately 14,500 homes, and displace approximately 11,500 tonnes of CO2 per annum (approximately 455,000 tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime).

The project will make a significant contribution to renewable power, both on a local and national basis, to help meet the UK’s legally binding emissions targets, whilst also reducing the UK’s exposure to global energy markets and its reliance on importing energy.

The project will provide the following benefits: 

  • generate up to 49.9MW local, subsidy-free renewable electricity, saving 11,500 tonnes of CO2 per year 
  • provide a domestic source of UK power that is not dependent on global gas prices which should help reduce national power prices 
  • provide an inflation-linked community benefit fund for the lifetime of the project to be used locally for social and environmental projects, including reducing the cost of electricity for the most impacted local households by offering zero cost rooftop solar 
  • provide the opportunity to supply renewable energy directly to local demand users 
  • result in a significant increase in biodiversity for the proposed site area and the creation of a community park area that will be accessible to the public 
  • provide a buffer to encroaching residential development, safeguarding the integrity and identity of the local area. 

Public access to the land will remain. 

The reduction in intensive farming on the site will encourage new flora and fauna to flourish, whilst the land can be grazed by sheep and therefore remain in agricultural use.

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Solar Farm Components

  • 1 Solar Energy
  • 2 Fencing
  • 3 Solar Panels
  • 4 Inverter (DC to AC power converter)
  • 5 Landscape Area
  • 6 Substation
  • 7Energy Storage
  • 8 Underground Cable

Biodiversity  

A well-designed solar farm provides many opportunities for local ecological and biodiversity improvement, particularly on land that has previously been intensively farmed. Evolution Power is committed to protecting and enhancing the existing biodiversity within the boundary of the project site.  

During the project lifetime the biodiversity will be significantly increased and the soil condition will be improved. A biodiversity enhancement scheme will be prepared to ensure that the project provides a biodiversity net gain.

Existing hedgerows will be protected and enhanced with historic hedgerows reinstated. We will seek to retain existing habitats and create new habitats to benefit local wildlife, including installing bird and bat boxes on the site.

Why this site?

In this era of climate emergency there is a pressing need for new renewable energy sources that can reduce the UK’s dependence on fossil fuels. However, solar projects cannot be situated anywhere. There are a number of criteria that need to be met for a site to be appropriate for development. 

The Wandon End Solar site has been carefully selected as it provides the following: 

  • Access to a nearby grid connection at Luton Airport Primary that has available capacity and has been secured. 
  • Close to large local energy users, such as major local employers and the east of Luton housing development, which provides the opportunity to supply renewable power direct to local demand users. 
  • No statutory landscape or ecological designations. 
  • Topography and existing hedgerows limit visual impact from most nearby villages. As part of the project, additional hedges will be planted to improve biodiversity and further limit any visual impact. 
  • High levels of sunlight (irradiation) given its south-east location means that the land required for the same output is less than it would be in other parts of the country (further north). 
  • Access to the site during construction will be from the southwest and therefore will not impact on local villages.