Overview

Fosse Green Energy is a proposal for a new solar and energy storage park and infrastructure to connect into the national grid on land south west of Lincoln in North Kesteven.

The project is anticipated to have a generating capacity of c.350 megawatts (MW) peak direct current (dc), with an export capacity of 240MW peak alternating current (ac). This is enough clean energy to power in the region of 110,000 homes.

The clean, renewable energy produced by Fosse Green Energy will make a valuable contribution to the UK Government’s targets to reach net zero by 2050. The Government’s Net Zero Growth Plan published in March 2023 reiterated these aims, including the commitment to increase the UK’s solar capacity fivefold by 2035.

Because the capacity of the solar farm exceeds 50 MW, Fosse Green Energy is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and requires a Development Consent Order (DCO) under the Planning Act 2008. You can find out more about the project’s development process here.

Location

Fosse Green Energy is proposed to be located on land 5.6 miles (9 km) south west of Lincoln in North Kesteven, Lincolnshire. It will be made up of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, power conversion stations, an onsite substation and battery energy storage areas located on the north and south of the A46, known as Fosse Way.

To the east of the Solar PV array area we are looking at potential corridors for transporting electricity through underground cables to a connection point into the national grid. We are currently considering two options for the grid connection corridor. The decision on the corridor will be informed by continuing survey work and the location of National Grid’s new substation.

The preliminary study area that we are looking at for the project is outlined below.

There will also be areas for ecological enhancements, mitigation measures and screening, as well as access points and infrastructure for energy storage.

There are many factors that have been considered in selecting the proposed location for Fosse Green Energy. They include the topography of the landscape; availability and location of a connection to the electricity system; planning and environmental factors including visual impact, biodiversity, agricultural land quality and land use, and flood risk. The availability and ownership of land, and access rights to the land through construction and operation also have been considered.