Discover the Top 8 Largest Solar Farms in England: Are Any Near You?

Faced with the harsh reality of a changing climate, businesses, scientists, and governments must work together to develop creative energy solutions. These can include harnessing sources of renewable energy, using gas and oil more efficiently, reducing reliance on coal, expanding nuclear energy, and more. There are numerous sources of energy, including both renewable and non-renewable energy sources. One of the top sources of renewable energy is solar power: energy from the sun. This article dives into the basics of accessing solar power and the ways that people are harvesting energy from the sun using solar farms in England. Together, we will learn all about the wonders of solar power and list some of the largest solar farms in England — maybe one is located near you!

Renewable Energy Sources and Overview of Solar Panels

About Renewable Energy

For most of human history, renewable energy sources provided the vast majority of energy to people and communities. This energy came from burning plants like wood, brush, and leaves to produce warmth, cook food, and provide light. There are five major sources of renewable energy in the world: geothermal energy from inside the earth, wind, biomass from plants, hydropower from moving water, and solar energy from the sun.

What is Renewable Energy?

The United Nations (U.N.) defines renewable energy as “energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed.” Some of the sources of renewable energy cannot be used up. The wind will always blow, but using wind turbines to generate electricity simply uses the existing wind power. Ocean waves will always move in and out from the shore. Others can be reduced but can be replaced faster than they are used. For example, plants will grow back, as long as people do not over-harvest them. Renewable energy sources are plentiful and available.

Solar power is renewable. We can harvest energy from the sun and convert it into electricity without diminishing its supply or power.

Overview of Solar Energy

Solar energy is the most abundant of all energy resources. Even if you do not see the sun out, sunlight can be harvested! In fact, it is a great source of renewable energy because the rate at which solar energy is intercepted on Earth is 10,000 times greater than the rate at which people consume it.

Solar-powered technology can provide heat, cooling, light, electricity, and more. As these technologies continue to improve, countries around the world can take advantage of these benefits. Right now is an exciting time in solar technology development! As the cost of making solar panels has declined significantly in recent years, accessing solar power has become more affordable than ever. Let’s learn more about solar panels and how they work next.

Overview of Solar Panels

 One method for harnessing energy is by using solar panels. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. There are two main ways that this works. Typically, the solar panels you see at a home or individual business are photovoltaic solar panels. These devices use photovoltaic (PV) cells, materials that generate electrons with exposure to a source of light – like the sun! When a solar panel’s photovoltaic cells produce electrons, the electrons flow into a circuit and create electricity. This electricity may then provide power to all kinds of electronic devices – from cars to batteries. 

The second method is called concentrating solar panels (CSP). This technology uses mirrors to reflect sunlight, concentrate the sunlight onto receptors, and convert the light into heat. This heat can then produce electricity. However, this method is primarily used by commercial solar plants and not by individuals or in a residential context.

In general, solar panels can be a good source of renewable or “clean” energy, but they can be expensive and require a large amount of intense sunlight. However, solar panels are growing in popularity across the world, due to improvements in technology and the benefits they bring by reducing individuals’ electricity costs.  

What Is a Solar Farm?

Before discussing the largest solar farms in England, it is important to cover what exactly a solar farm is. Solar farms, also known as “solar parks” and “photovoltaic power stations” are large groups of photovoltaic solar panels. While residential solar panels may be fixed onto a home’s roof or installed at the side of a building, solar farm panels typically mount directly to the ground. They direct the electricity they collect straight to a power grid. From there, the owner distributes electricity to customers across a geographic area. 

Utility-scale solar farms operate on a large scale. They may include hundreds of thousands of solar panels across a large field or land area, which absorb and convert electricity from the sun. Community solar farms operate on a smaller scale and provide power to specific communities. The electricity generated goes straight back to the community. These solar farms are privately owned and operated and the power they produce belongs to the community. In contrast, utility-scale solar farms are owned and operated by utility companies.

This article focuses on utility-scale solar farms, which are typically the largest solar farms in a given country or geographic region. 

Solar Farms in England

Generally, if you try to discover the biggest solar farms in England, you may find that the lists change often. This is a good thing! In fact, it means that new solar farms are being developed, existing solar farms are expanding, and more communities are gaining access to solar energy! With that said, keep in mind that the list of the largest solar farms in England changes often, and the information below may become out of date quickly.

The good news is that the government of the United Kingdom recently published a report showing 15.2 GW of solar capacity. That is an increase of 6.7% since June 2022. In fact, according to the report, the United Kingdom is now home to 1,353,261 solar installations. Hopefully, this combined capacity to harness solar power will continue to grow significantly in the years ahead! However, despite these gains, solar power provides a very small amount of all of the energy in the United Kingdom (an estimated 2 to 10% of all of the energy supply). 

Keep in mind that the list below focuses on the biggest solar farms in England, and not the biggest solar farms in the United Kingdom as a whole. There are many other solar farms in the United Kingdom outside of England, including in parts of Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. 

The Largest Solar Farm in the United Kingdom

Did you know that there are at least 469 solar farms across the United Kingdom? Many of these are in England!

The largest solar farm in the United Kingdom is the Shotwick Solar Park in Deeside, Flintshire, which is an area on the Wale-Englandles border. This solar farm has a capacity of 72.2 MWp, making it the biggest in all of the United Kingdom. Shotwick Solar Park powers the UPM paper manufacturing plant, which produces 100% recycled paper and runs 24/7. The Shotwick Solar Park provides 60% of the paper factory’s energy needs. It also generates enough electricity to power the equivalent of 18,055 households in an average year. Having the solar park also helps to protect an estimated 220 acres of land. 

The Biggest Solar Farms in England

The list below names some of the biggest solar farms in England in order of the land they cover (acreage).

1. The Bradenstoke Solar Park in Bradenstoke, Wiltshire

The Bradenstoke Solar Park in Bradenstoke, Wiltshire, England provides 49.9 MW of solar power to the grid. The site was originally commissioned on an RAF (Royal Airforce) airbase and developed as Lyneham Solar Farm by the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence. In 2021, Bluefield Solar Income Fund purchased the solar farm. Even though the site has a capacity of 69.8 MW, it only provides 49.9 MW to the power grid from 290,000 solar panels. Brandestoke spans over 250 acres of the former RAF base at Lyneham. 

2. South Lowfield Solar Farm in Kirkby Fleetham, North Yorkshire

The South Lowfield Solar Farm in Kirkby Fleetham in North Yorkshire, England, currently has a capacity for 49.9 MW of solar power. The solar panels are located in a meadow with wildflowers and native plants to encourage biodiversity. Sheep graze on the grasses beneath the panels. 

This location was developed by Lightsource bp, purchased by NextEnergy Solar Fund, and generates electricity AB InBev. This site has been operational since 2021. This ground-mounted solar project covers 231 acres.

3. West Raynham RAF Solar Farm in North Norfolk

The West Raynham RAF Solar Farm in North Norfolk, England has a capacity for 49.9 MW of solar power. This solar farm was built by ESM Power Ltf. Since being commissioned, this solar farm has covered 225 acres with 200,000 ground-mounted solar panels.

4. The Owl’s Hatch Solar Park in Herne Bay, Kent

The Owl’s Hatch Solar Park in Herne Bay, Kent, England has the capacity for 49.9 MW of solar power. The site is owned by Cubico. The solar farm covers 212 acres of land and is dual-purpose, with sheep grazing on the land beneath the ground-mounted solar panels. Its rows of 2.4-meter panels generate enough power for approximately 14,000 homes.

5. The Grange Solar Farm in Newark, Nottinghamshire 

The Grange Solar Farm in Newark, Nottinghamshire, England began as a 5 MW solar farm in 2011. In 2016, it expanded to gain the capacity for 49.9 MW of solar power. In 2020, the solar farm was sold to NextEnergy. This solar park is a ground-mounted solar project that covers 207 acres. 

6. Lark’s Green Solar Farm in Bristol

Lark’s Green Solar Farm is a 49.9 MW solar photovoltaic project in England near Bristol. It is the first large turnkey photovoltaic project managed by GRS, a Gransolar company. This new solar plant is a project for Cero Generation and Enso Energy and has 152,400 solar panels that cover about 198 acres (or 80 hectares). Each year, this solar farm will generate the clean energy needed to power 17,300 homes. 

7. The Swindon Solar Park in Swindon

The Swindon Solar Park in Swindon, England provides 49.9 MW of solar power. The site was developed by Belectric U.K., British Solar Renewables, Public Power Solutions, and WElink Energy U.K., but is now owned by Rockfire Capital. Although the site has been said to have a total capacity of 60.9 MWp, the planning orders limit sites like this one to output less than 50 MW to the grid. As a result, the site provides 49.9 MW. This solar park covers about 190 acres.

8. South Farm Solar Plant in Dorset

The South Farm in Dorset, England has a capacity for 49.9 MW of solar power. This solar farm is near the village of Spetisbury in Dorset and is being developed, constructed, and operated by Voltalia. The solar farm began operations in January 2023. The site covers 130 acres.

New Solar Farms in England

In addition to the solar farms named above, in 2023 the government gave permission for the Longfield Solar Farm near Terling in Essex to be built. This will be big enough to power an estimated 60,000 households. Once built, it will be among the largest solar farms in the United Kingdom. With future plans to continue investing in renewable energy in the United Kingdom, new solar farms across England will bring power to homes, new jobs to the community, and innovations for the future. 

Where the Biggest Solar Farms in England Are Located

The east and southeast regions of England are particularly popular places to build solar farms, thanks to its sunny weather and flat land full of open fields. In addition to this, Cornwall and the southwest region of England also have a high number of solar farms and have been said to have some of the highest solar potential in the country. Renewable energy experts look for places where solar radiation is intense.

Summary of the Top 8 Largest Solar Farms in England

Here is a summary of the largest solar farms in England:

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Thinnapob/ via Getty Images