Steeple Renewables Project is a proposed solar and battery storage development located near the decommissioned West Burton Power Station, Nottinghamshire. This project aims to generate up to 600MW of solar energy and associated battery storage, providing clean, sustainable electricity to approximately 180,000 homes every year.[1] 

RES has a grid connection agreement for up to 600MW - the precise distribution between solar and associated battery components is yet to be finalised. Whilst we currently anticipate a configuration of approximately 75% solar and 25% battery, this ratio will be refined based on ongoing assessments and the valuable feedback gathered during this consultation.

There is now widespread recognition that the UK, and the rest of the world, is in a climate emergency. To help address climate change the UK has committed to reaching net-zero by 2050, requiring us to quadruple our low-carbon electricity generation.

As you may be aware, West Burton Power Station has recently been decommissioned. This has released grid capacity adjacent to the land where we are looking to bring forward a renewables project. We have secured a connection agreement with National Grid to utilise this grid capacity. We believe that our proposals, alongside other energy projects in the local area, present an opportunity for this part of Nottinghamshire to continue its historic role of helping to power the UK.

The need for solar

With the global climate emergency becoming increasingly urgent, the UK is accelerating its efforts to transition to a clean energy system. The target of achieving a carbon-free electricity grid by 2030 underscores the country’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions based on the clean energy action plan.

This expansion is central to the Government’s renewable energy strategy, which aims to reduce energy costs for households and businesses, enhance energy security, and establish the UK as a global leader in clean energy. Solar energy enables more electricity to be generated domestically without reliance on imports and is not subject to sudden price fluctuations or the uncertainty of global markets. It can therefore play an important role in improving the security and diversification of the UK’s energy supply.

Government forecasting places solar as the cheapest source of new electricity generation for the coming years. This means investment in solar projects like Steeple Renewables Project is not just good for the environment but also for the consumer.

[1] The homes figure has been calculated by taking the predicted average annual electricity generation of the site and dividing this by the annual average electricity figures from DESNZ (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) showing that the annual GB average domestic household consumption is 3,239 kWh (January 2024).