Work on a South Yorkshire solar park that will provide power for thousands of homes has taken a leap forward after construction started on a substation that will manage its electrical output.
Renewables developer OnPath Energy is building the Common Farm Solar Park close to the Todwick Road Industrial Estate in Dinnington, near Sheffield, which will be able to generate enough green electricity to power up to 18,800 family homes. OnPath has now brought in connection specialist TMS Grid to deliver the Common Farm Solar Park’s connectivity infrastructure, for both itself and Northern PowerGrid.
The project’s 50MW battery storage facility will link directly into the Thurcroft electricity substation, around three kilometres north of the site. OnPath Energy says the move will help make the energy grid more efficient, facilitate more renewable energy generation and support the long term security of energy supplies.
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Work on levelling and preparing the 27,000 sqft substation site has now begun, with construction of the building expected to start around the end of the year. The development of the substation will take around a year to complete, with up to 12 people working on site at any given time.
Construction work on the Common Farm Solar Park will then begin over the winter months, with specialist infrastructure consultancy AECOM acting as lead consultant for the scheme. It is scheduled to be complete in mid-2027, with the whole project set to provide opportunities for regional subcontractors and suppliers through the development period.
The scheme’s ecology and biodiversity commitments will also bring biodiversity benefits to the local community, including new grassland which has already been planted across the site’s entire 116 hectares to create a wildflower meadow. Consultation work is continuing to determine how the annual community benefits package of around £50,000, which could equate to around £2m through its lifetime, can best be used.
Peter Eagle, chief executive officer at TMS Grid, said: “Our team has a wealth of experience of helping to deliver innovative renewable energy generation projects and works to the highest standards of quality, safety and sustainability. The Common Farm Solar Park is an excellent example of a modern, efficient project that will help to increase the amount of low carbon, green energy that’s available to all of us.”
OnPath Energy owns and operates four onshore wind farms across Yorkshire, including the Penny Hill Wind Farm near Sheffield and the Marr Wind Farm near Doncaster.
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Martin Kellerman, construction director at OnPath Energy, added: “Work on delivering the direct environmental, energy security, economic and community benefits that the Common Farm Solar Park will bring to the local area is beginning to accelerate. Partnering with businesses that share our long-term values to deliver sustainable locally sourced projects of the highest quality is a central part of our OnPath Together development approach.
“The experience and expertise that TMS Grid provides is ideal for this part of the project and we’re very pleased to be working with such a well-regarded firm in this field.”