[Bristol, March 2025] The 49.9 MW Burcot Solar Farm, a co-located solar PV and BESS site, has been granted consent after an appeal concluded that the land could continue to be used for agricultural purposes alongside the substantial benefit of generating renewable energy, and the soils would be protected allowing return to arable use at the end of the lifetime of the development.
Developed by Ethical Power in partnership with Hive Ethical Project Developments (HEPD), Burcot Solar Farm will make a valuable contribution to achieving local and national clean energy targets, addressing climate change, and improving energy security and resilience. Co-located battery energy storage solutions (BESS) on site will increase the reliability of supply and further ease the pressure on our grid, enabling Burcot Solar Farm to produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of 18,000 family homes per annum.
The site will also benefit from substantial ecological enhancements, thanks to the 86.7% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) measures, which comprises the creation of new habitats for birds, bats, and invertebrates, as well as the planting of native trees and hedgerows around the site.
On top of the ecological benefits from our BNG enhancements, Burcot Solar Farm will also support continued agricultural use through sheep grazing. The land will be reinstated back to its original purpose once the project has reached its conclusion.
About Hive Ethical Project Developments
Hive Ethical Project Developments is a joint venture between Hive Energy, Ethical Power, and Lockhart Developments.