Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) is carrying out a feasibility study to develop a solar farm in conjunction with Fresford, Hinton Charterhouse and Limpley Stoke parish councils.

BWCE is a successful community-owned business established in 2010 to develop a not-for-profit community energy model. Our renewable energy projects place ownership in the hands of local people and actively benefit local communities in Bath, North East Somerset, parts of Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire. In addition to energy generation BWCE is focused on lowering energy demand and using renewables more efficiently; last year the BWCE Home Energy service launched to support householders in addressing the challenge of retrofitting inefficient and draughty homes.​

Key statistics:

• 800kWp solar farm
• The solar farm site is approximately 6 acres
• Solar takes up approximately 2 acres
• The solar farm will take up 0.002% of land in the parish of Hinton Charterhouse
• Cutting emissions by 160 tonnes of CO2 per year – that’s 113 people’s average annual driving emissions
• The solar farm will generate an estimated 842,000kWh of electricity every year
• Ring fenced annual funding benefit to local communities (area to be agreed through consultation)
• Ability to graze sheep on the land
• Estimated increase of Biodiversity Net Gain of 25%.
• The site is Grade 4 Agriculture land *

* Grade 4 land: Land with severe limitations which significantly restrict the range of crops or level of yields. It is mainly suited to grass with occasional arable crops (for example cereals and forage crops) the yields of which are variable. In moist climates, yields of grass may be moderate to high but there may bedifficulties using the land. The grade also includes arable land that is very dry because of drought. source: www.gov.uk