• Global renewable energy company Ørsted is sharing plans for Kingfisher Solar Farm in the East Riding of Yorkshire, which would have a capacity of approximately 320 megawatts (MW)
• Residents are being invited to provide their feedback on the proposals for the solar farm during an early phase of non-statutory consultation across February and March 2025, including four local events.
A new solar farm which would provide renewable, clean energy is planned for East Yorkshire, with local residents now being invited to share their views.
The Kingfisher Solar Farm, which would have a capacity of approximately 320 MW, is proposed on land three miles north of the town of Beverley and east of the A164. The proposals for Kingfisher are being brought forward by Ørsted, a global leader in developing renewable energy projects.
If granted consent, Kingfisher is expected to be operational by the end of 2030 and provide clean energy for up to six decades. It builds on the UK’s goal of generating 95 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and reducing the UK’s carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050.
An initial, non-statutory consultation will run from Monday 3rd February to Sunday 9th March 2025. Local residents, businesses and community groups can learn about Kingfisher and share their feedback online on the project website (kingfishersolarfarm.co.uk). They are also invited to attend any of Kingfisher’s four public events taking place throughout the consultation period, where they can discuss their questions with the Project team, which will help inform and develop the proposal for Kingfisher.
The events will be held at:
• Lockington Village Hall, Chapel Street, Lockington, Driffield YO25 9SN on Monday 10th February from 15:00 to 20:00
• Hutton Cranswick WI Hall, Main Street, Hutton Cranswick, Driffield YO25 9QR on Wednesday 12th February from 15:00 to 20:00
• Cottingham Civic Hall, Market Green, Cottingham HU16 5QG on Friday 28th February from 15:00 to 20:00
• Beverley Memorial Hall, 73-75 Lairgate, Beverley HU17 8HN on Saturday 1st March from 12:00 to 17:00
Randall Linfoot, Ørsted’s programme manager for Kingfisher, said: “Kingfisher Solar Farm will provide green energy for around 100,000 British households, making a significant contribution toward meeting the country’s ambitious plans to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“We will also be delivering real benefits for the communities we are working in if the project is approved, including increasing wildlife and habitat areas around our solar array, and having a community benefit fund that will deliver lasting, tangible benefits for local people. We will be investing in local initiatives and engaging small and medium sized businesses in the area to see how they can secure work through our supply chain. Ørsted has been working in the Humber region for over a decade, with several offshore wind farms situated in the North Sea; we employ over 600 people in the Humber region already.
“We look forward to sharing more details on our proposals with local residents and businesses through this consultation. We are engaging with communities as early as possible to help us refine our plans for Kingfisher Solar Farm and ensure their views are heard, understood, and used to shape our plans where we can.”
Ørsted is proposing to use the same cable route as the UK Government consented Hornsea 4 Offshore Wind Farm (another Ørsted developed project) for Kingfisher. This would connect to the national grid via an underground cable route to the Creyke Beck substation, situated south of Beverley and north of Cottingham.
Those interested in Kingfisher can sign up for the digital mailing list via the project website: kingfishersolarfarm.co.uk
For further media information please contact info@kingfishersolarfarm.co.uk or call 03303 010097
Notes for editors
Ørsted is a renewable energy company with a clear vision: to create a world that runs entirely on green energy. Ørsted is a global leader* on climate action that develops, constructs, owns and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, and bioenergy plants.
Ørsted is dedicated to being an active partner in the communities where it develops, builds, operates and owns green energy assets.
Ørsted has been working in the Humber region for over a decade, operating the world’s largest offshore wind farms, Hornsea 1 and 2, in the North Sea. Two further wind farms in the Hornsea zone are currently being developed: Hornsea 3, which will become the world’s largest when fully operational by the end of the decade, and Hornsea 4, which is in development. More than 600 people work from Ørsted’s East Coast Hub located in Grimsby.
To find out more, visit www.orsted.co.uk/about-us
*Ørsted is recognised on the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Climate Change A List as a global leader on climate action and was the first energy company in the world to have its science-based net-zero emissions target validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Kingfisher is classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) as the generation capacity is more than 50 megawatts; as such, it must apply for a Development Consent Order (DCO) from the UK government rather than following regular planning permission pathways through local authorities.
Website: kingfishersolarfarm.co.uk
Email address: info@kingfishersolarfarm.co.uk
Phone: 03303 010097
Freepost: Freepost KINGFISHER SOLAR FARM
