Projects

Elgin Energy's portfolio

Elgin Energy has a 98% success rate in planning applications. As of 2022, Elgin Energy has successfully obtained planning permission for 1GW+ across more than 60 projects. A further 120 projects are at late stages of development across the UK, Ireland and Australia totalling 6GW solar + 3GW storage

At Elgin Energy, the long-term nature of infrastructural development requires extensive research and time in order to identify the right opportunities. Landowners are an integral part of each project. We build relationships with them founded on trust and respect and work together to develop sustainable projects. Elgin Energy has delivered operational solar farms in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland with an output of more than 230MW.

Operational Projects

Ballygarvey Road

Ballygarvey Road

Location: Antrim, Northern Ireland
Capacity: 9MW
Constructed: Early 2018

Ballygarvey Road solar farm is the second solar farm developed by Elgin Energy in Northern Ireland.
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Bann Road

Bann Road

Location: Antrim, Northern Ireland
Capacity: 46MW
Constructed: Early 2017

This is the largest solar farm to date in Northern Ireland.
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Bilsborrow

Bilsborrow

Location: Lancashire, Northern England
Capacity: 5MW
Constructed: Early 2017

Elgin Energy worked closely with the Duchy of Lancaster to develop this solar farm.
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Hunger Hill

Hunger Hill

Location: Durham, England
Capacity: 5MW
Constructed: Early 2017

This solar farm is located near to a railway line.
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Sandhutton

Sandhutton

Location: North Yorkshire, England
Capacity: 5MW
Constructed: Early 2017

This solar farm has an existing public bridleway (equestrian trail) located at the perimeter of the site.
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Berthlwyd

Berthlwyd

Location: Glamorgan, Wales
Capacity: 5MW
Constructed: Early 2017

The landowner has been able to continue using his land for sheep grazing.
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Bodwen

Bodwen

Location: Cornwall, Southern England
Capacity: 5MW
Constructed: Early 2017

Extensive ecological studies were carried out prior to the development of this site.
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Ebnal Lodge

Ebnal Lodge

Location: Shropshire, Southern England
Capacity: 5MW
Constructed: Early 2017

A public footpath runs through the centre of this solar farm.
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Errol

Errol

Location: Perth, Scotland
Capacity: 13MW
Constructed: Early 2016

This is the largest solar farm to date in Scotland and is also one of the most northern utility-scale solar farms in the world.
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Rose & Crown

Rose & Crown

Location: Norfolk, England
Capacity: 30MW
Constructed: Early 2016

The Rose & Crown solar farm began construction in January 2016 and was energized in March 2016.
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Carnemough

Carnemough

Location: Cornwall, Southern England
Capacity: 8MW
Constructed: Early 2016

This is Elgin Energy’s most southerly solar farm to date.
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Jesus College

Jesus College

Location: Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
Capacity: 7MW
Constructed: Early 2016

This site had a number of interesting challenges such as archaeology, flooding, protected species, and provisions required for underground public mains.
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Wick Road

Wick Road

Location: Somerset, England
Capacity: 7MW
Constructed: Early 2016

This 7MW solar farm is located to the southeast of Bristol in Somerset.
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Sutor Farm

Sutor Farm

Location: Somerset, England
Capacity: 5MW
Constructed: Early 2016

This 5MW solar farm is located in Somerset in south west England.
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Trequite

Trequite

Location: Menheniot, Cornwall, England
Capacity: 12MW
Constructed: Early 2014

As part of the development of this site, Elgin Energy facilitated the opening of Padderbury Top, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, to the public.
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Trewidland

Trewidland

Location: Pensipple, Cornwall, England
Capacity: 5MW
Constructed: Early 2014

Local labour was used on site during the delivery of materials, civil and final stage works.
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Clawdd Ddu

Clawdd Ddu

Location: Tycroes, Ammanford, Wales
Capacity: 12MW
Constructed: Early 2014

The landowner lives in the centre of this solar farm and considers the panels to be ‘very good neighbours’.
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Llwyndu

Llwyndu

Location: Blaenporth, Wales
Capacity: 8MW
Constructed: Late 2014

This solar farm is located close to West Wales Airport.
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Little Neath

Little Neath

Location: Pembrokeshire, Wales
Capacity: 5MW
Constructed: Late 2014

The site is adjacent to the Valero oil refinery at Milford Haven.
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Burthy

Burthy

Location: Cornwall, England
Capacity: 13MW
Constructed: Early 2013
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Granville

Granville

Location: Massachusetts
Capacity: 6.2MW
Construction is currently underway to be completed in Q2 2022
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Low Impact Installations

At Elgin Energy, we understand the challenges that landowners and agricultural businesses face. Over the past ten years, we have worked with landowners providing secure revenue and contributing to the regeneration of rural enterprises. Our solar farms are low impact installations that produce clean energy, and depending on the location and land type, can improve biodiversity and support dual land use. If you would like to learn more about partnering with us, please provide your details below.
Testimonials
What landowners have to say

Large landholdings (80+ acres)

If you own 80+ acres of flat land with natural screening in the form of hedgerows or trees and are within 5km of a substation, please provide your details below and a member of our team will be in touch.

FAQs

The first and most important factor in determining the location of a solar farm is access to and capacity on the electricity grid. Ideally projects will be located within 5km of a substation that has capacity. For UK & Australian sites, overhead lines passing through the site are useful too.

Elgin Energy is identifying sites that are 80 acres or larger for solar farms.

Installation in Ireland and the UK is very quick. The largest solar farm in Northern Ireland, Bann Road, 46MW covering 180 acres was installed and energised in four months. Installation in Australia can take longer due to harsher ground conditions and larger project size.

The first step is building the substation. Substations are small buildings that house equipment connecting the solar farm to the grid. The only concrete poured on site is for the substation and inverter bases. Inverters convert the electricity from direct current produced by solar panels to grid compatible alternating current. There is approximately one inverter per MW installed and their location is site specific and suitably located within the existing landscape. The arrays are constructed by driving galvanised steel poles into the ground. The mounting frame is secured to these poles and solar panels are fixed to these frames. No concrete is poured for these arrays. Installation of tracking systems is much the same as the mounting frame with steel posts driven into the ground and no concrete poured. All cabling across the site is buried underground.
Solar farms typically occupy less than 5% of the ground they cover as the steel posts are the only component on the ground, aside from the substation and inverter stations. This leaves huge scope for biodiversity. A timber and post “deer” fence is included as part of the site design for Irish & UK projects. It has a gap of 10cm at ground level to allow wildlife to pass through. Solar farms encourage ecological growth as they are tranquil, largely undisturbed sites which do not require heavy machinery or intensive farming to maintain. Existing hedgerow and site vegetation are retained and additional hedgerows are planted to minimise views and encourage increased biodiversity. Ecological Appraisals are carried out as part of the planning process to identify what animals are present and to ensure no protected species are inhabiting the site. Tree surveys are conducted to detail existing trees in and around the site and to identify exposed or endangered trees. Construction exclusion zones (CEZ) are imposed where necessary to protect trees. For our UK & Irish projects, the soil is left fallow for the lifetime of the project allowing the soil to regenerate. Planting of suitable flowers/vegetation is also included as part of the site design for these projects. Where possible, beehives and/or insect hotels are installed too providing additional biodiversity enhancements.

There is no permanent lighting on site across our solar farms. For health & safety reasons, there will be temporary task lighting on site during standard working hours.

The only moving parts on UK & Irish solar farms are the fans in the inverter station. The fan within the inverter is the same size and rating of a fan that is found in most domestic bathrooms. For Australian sites, trackers may be installed. These are additional moving parts emitting a low noise.

Solar PV is now the fastest growing, and easiest to deploy, renewable energy globally.