Devon set to get 4.8MW solar development

After securing planning permission in 2012 for what will be the UK’s largest solar project to date, clean energy firm TGC Renewables has been given the go-ahead for a 4.8 megawatt (MW) development in Devon.

Some 20,680 solar panels will be installed on 12 hectares of land near Totnes, Devon. TGC has previously worked directly with both local authorities and landlords in the area.

“By keeping all the required development skills in-house, we know all the details of every site so that TGC and our partners can plan and invest safely without unwanted surprises”, said Rob Denman, director of TGC Renewables.

“Our pipeline of UK solar projects is a real indicator of the interest and demand from the rural and investor community for solar developments.” 

He added, “With traditional assets not generating the returns of previous years, clean energy projects are increasingly attractive.”

The new project in Devon is part of the developer’s 50MW rollout of wind and solar capacity. TGC aims to increase this target to 100MW over the next 12 months.

The firm’s successful planning application comes at a challenging time for the industry, after Bloomberg New Energy Finance revealed last week that global clean energy investment had dropped to a four-year low in the first quarter of 2013.

Further reading:

‘Largest UK solar project’ receives planning approval

Global clean energy investment drops to lowest level since 2009

Northern England makes strong headway in solar

Suffolk surges on in large solar development race

The Guide to Limitless Clean Energy 2012