West Berkshire Solar Farm Gets Green Light!

West Berkshire Council has approved its own solar farm at Bloomfield Hatch in Grazeley, despite the project being 'highly sensitive' to future electricity prices.

The scheme, on and off the table for at least five years, was discussed at two council meetings this week.

Costs have risen from £10m to £20m since it began, but the council says financial details are commercially sensitive and has kept them under wraps.

Council leader Jeff Brooks (Lib Dem, Thatcham West) hinted the scheme could include community ownership via a public share offering, following a scrutiny committee recommendation.

The proposal needs capital funding to be considered in the council's budget. The latest model says the solar farm should deliver a positive long-term return, but its financials are sensitive to electricity prices, borrowing and construction costs, generation performance, discount-rate assumptions and how much power can be used or sold locally.

"We have worked with a number of experts in the field; Horizon Power and Energy, Cornwall Insight and Global City Futures on the business case and tested it," said Stuart Gourley (Lib Dem, Newbury Clay Hill), executive member for the environment.

"We will continue working with experts to deliver the project for both the financial benefits for residents, and the environmental benefits for residents."

Recent modelling also looked at Local Government Reorganisation. If Ridgeway Council goes ahead it would increase chances of using more power internally; the Government's pause on LGR adds risk, reduces projected margins and raises reliance on exporting to the grid, though the council says the scheme remains financially positive under its assumptions.

There are legal and delivery issues to handle, including public procurement, contracts, planning, grid connection, land and easement arrangements, and governance linked to LGR.

The farm will be built on council-owned land currently leased for agriculture. AWE has issued tenders for locally generated renewable energy. The site needs to be ready by December 2027 to meet grid connection deadlines.

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter