Power generator RWE has received confirmation of planning permission for its Byers Gill Solar Farm located near Stockton and Darlington in the North-east of England.

As the capacity of the project was greater than 50 MW the application was considered under the UK’s Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) planning regime. Following submission of the planning application in February 2024, RWE has now  been granted development consent from the secretary of state for energy security and net zero.

The application will consist of a proposed solar farm with over 50MW capacity, Solar PV modules and associated mounting structures, inverters, transformers, switch gear and control equipment, a substation, energy storage equipment and underground on and off-site cabling.

Located between Stockton and Darlington, the 180 MW solar farm, subject to a successful financial investment decision being taken, would be combined with a 180 MW battery energy storage system.

Once fully constructed, Byers Gill would be capable of delivering enough low-carbon energy to meet the equivalent annual needs of more than 70,000 homes. The project also aims to deliver economic, environmental and community benefits to the local area, as well as significant biodiversity gains, continued agricultural use of the land and creation of new local wildlife habitats.

Adam Swarbrick, RWE UK head of solar and storage, said: “This latest successful consent further strengthens RWE’s solar and battery storage development pipeline in the UK, supporting the UK’s energy security ambitions.

“Gill is our largest co-located solar and battery storage development project to be consented in the UK, and the first to successfully navigate the detailed scrutiny of the NSIP examination process. This success is a testament to the expertise and capability that sits within RWE’s development teams. Our next step is to work towards a successful internal investment decision.”

RWE has 11 solar projects under construction in the UK and earlier this month marked the energisation of its first UK solar site, Langford Solar Farm in Devon.