development
The Prospects Foundation, an environmental charity based in Accrington, commissioned Sharenergy to carry out a study using resources obtained from the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF).
The study investigated the feasibility of installing a 2MW solar array on land owned by the Prospects Foundation in Oswaldtwistle, and showed that the scheme would be viable if set up under a private wire arrangement.
A planning application was submitted to Hyndburn Borough Council in May 2023, to which Network Rail raised an objection to the ‘glint and glare’ of the panels. The angle of the panels was changed to avoid this problem, the redesign was submitted and received approval on the 12th June 2024. The solar farm is set to be built by the end of 2025, and will supply electricity to the grid with a further connection to power the William Blythe Ltd chemical plant to the north side of the Leeds and Liverpool canal.
More information can be found on the Project website.