Horsey Levels solar farm takes home Solar & Storage gold after accelerated connection

National Grid Electricity Distribution has landed a Solar & Storage award for their efforts in energising the Horsey Levels solar farm in Somerset.

The operator took home the Network & Connections award for the project, which achieved the historic milestone of becoming the first project to be energised through the Technical Limits accelerator programme.

The Technical Limits programme, which forms part of the Energy Network Association’s (ENA) three-point plan, has enabled generation schemes to connect before large-scale transmission reinforcement work is completed. Consequently, connection times for clean energy infrastructure can be brought forward, with Horsey Levels being the first beneficiary of the initiative.

The solar farm, developed and constructed by clean energy company Enviromena in collaboration with National Grid, serves as a model for future initiatives, showcasing how collaboration between multiple stakeholders can accelerate the development and connection of new, renewable energy infrastructure.

The collaboration between National Grid, Enviromena, Somerset Council, and Blackfinch Energy, has demonstrated the power of public-private partnerships in driving the UK’s energy transition. The project received unanimous support from Somerset Council and was granted planning consent through delegated power in 2022.

The Horsey Levels solar farm programme has achieved significant environmental benefits. With an annual energy yield of 27,550MWh, the solar farm has the capacity to provide clean energy for 10,000 homes.

By avoiding the emission of 5,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, the project has, and will continue to, make a substantial contribution to the industry’s efforts to combat climate change and reach Net Zero, while contributing to the UK’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

Projects such as Horsey Levels, and reforms to the connection process, form one part of National Grid’s investment in its network to ensure reliability, build capacity and facilitate connections.

National Grid, alongside industry partners, will continue to focus on accelerating connections, and working across the industry to influence and innovate positive outcomes for customers. The operator is investing £500 million over the next five years to ensure electricity generation customers can connect to the network, and are working closely with industry, Ofgem and government to streamline the process and accelerate connection times for active projects.

Amanda Le Brocq, Director of Connections at National Grid Electricity Distribution, said:

“We are thrilled that the work we’re doing to accelerate connections and decarbonise the communities we serve has been recognised at the Solar & Storage awards.

“The Horsey Levels solar farm project is a best-in-class case study of how industry partners can work together to benefit our electricity generation customers with a faster connection to the Grid, and our local communities by contributing to net zero targets.

“While this is an important milestone, we’re just getting started. We are committed to delivering further benefits through the Technical Limits programme, and ensuring that Horsey Levels is the first of many renewable projects to benefit from this innovative, co-ordinated approach.”