Six Oaks Renewable Energy Park Gains Planning Approval

Home » Six Oaks Renewable Energy Park Gains Planning Approval Published: April 9, 2024 This Article was Written by: Daniela Jenkins - Ridge Clean Energy

Ridge Clean Energy (RCE), a UK based clean energy company, has received planning approval to develop Six Oaks Renewable Energy Park (REP). The 49.9MW REP, located between the A14 and A11, approximately one mile to the southeast of the centre of Bottisham, was approved by East Cambridgeshire District Council on 21st December 2023, following their Planning Committee meeting in November.

Six Oaks will combine solar generation with battery storage, making a meaningful contribution to the area’s energy needs by delivering efficient, reliable renewable electricity equivalent to the use of approximately 10,700 homes, saving around 9,430 tonnes of CO2 per annum of emissions.

The associated Six Oaks Community Benefit Fund is projected to provide £30,000 per year for the 40 year lifespan of the project, enabling local people to share further in the advantages of renewable power.

“We are looking forward to continuing our successful partnership work with local community organisations such as Bottisham Village College, Wilbrahams’ Environmental Group and The Well-brahams, “ said Daniela Jenkins BEM, Community Partnership and Assistant Project Manager. “We will continue to work closely with local parish councils to firm up the administration of the community benefit fund to support local social, educational and environmental projects for the community.”

Marjorie Glasgow BEM, co-founder and CEO of Ridge Clean Energy said: “We are delighted East Cambridgeshire District Council have granted consent for Six Oaks Renewable Energy Park. As a company we aim to set a new standard for clean energy projects in the UK, through effective integration of renewable energy, community involvement and environmental protection.”

Positive benefits for nature are in store for the moderate quality land with a substantial net gain of 66% to local biodiversity, achieved by including species-rich seed mix in between the rows of solar panels to encourage wildlife, and the enhancement of existing hedgerows. Special provisions have been made to protect and encourage nesting of skylarks.

The scheme will include an array of ground-mounted solar panels and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The site for Six Oaks was sensitively and strategically identified based on its position sandwiched between two major trunk roads, which limits visibility in the wider area. There is existing access to the site from the public highway and no high-yield land is being removed from food production.

The project is part of Ridge Clean Energy’s portfolio of ten Renewable Energy Parks currently in development. These include a range of renewable energy technologies, including Onshore Wind, Solar Photovoltaics and Battery Energy Storage Systems.