Residents are invited to find out more about plans for Chester Solar Farm in which they are invited to invest and receive 'attractive financial returns'.
The Big60Million community-energy company wants to build and operate a 5MW solar farm on a 12-hectare agricultural site to the north west of Balderton.
An advert invites residents to drop in on a public consultation event taking place at Pulford Village Hall, Pulford, on Thursday September 10 between 3-7pm.
It reads: “We are preparing plans for the scheme that are due to be submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council in late September 2015. We want to hear your views to help us shape our proposals for the benefit of your local community, environment and economy.”
The Buckinghamshire-based company’s vision is that 'the 60 million residents of every town and village in the UK should have the opportunity to harness wide ranging financial, environmental, and social benefits from their local, sensitively sited solar farm'.
Its initiative was created by Belectric UK, a solar energy company that designs, builds and operates photovoltaic (PV) solar farms and rooftop installations throughout the UK.
Big60Million provides an investment opportunity to UK residents by offering ‘Big60Million Solar Bonds’ specific to each project. Each bond is priced at £60 and pays a fixed rate of return (gross) per annum for five years. After five years investors have the option to be repaid their initial capital investment, or the right to participate in a further 20-year investment opportunity and benefit for the full project lifetime.
The Chester scheme would be able to power the equivalent of 1,400 homes and avoid the release of 2,000 tonnes of carbon per annum into atmosphere. The promotional blurb states: “Chester Solar Farm will provide an opportunity for local people to invest and receive attractive financial returns through the generation of electricity from sunlight.”
Solar farms are becoming more common place.
Toyota UK’s engine production centre at Deeside in North Wales now uses 13,000 on site solar panels to provide up to 10% of all its electricity requirements.
Peel Energy recently applied to Cheshire West and Chester Council to build a 5MW solar farm comprising 20,000 panels on green belt land in Hapsford. But Dunham on the Hill and Hapsford Parish Council intend to object to the application, arguing that a brownfield site would be more appropriate.
For more details about the Balderton scheme, email: chestersolar@wardell-armstrong.com or call 01942 260101.
