Renewable and Solar?

Why Renewable Energy?

“Climate change, sometimes called global warming, is the gravest and most urgent crisis facing humanity. It is caused by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels, cutting down forests and farming livestock.” - Greenpeace (www. greenpeace.org.uk).

We see on a daily basis the effects of the climate crisis on the news, in magazines and on the internet. The challenge of climate change is affecting all our lives and the lives of our children. One solution is Renewable Energy, the United Nations (www.UN.org) say, “Renewables are now cheaper in most countries, and generate three times more jobs than fossil fuels.”

Solar energy is one source of renewable energy, along with wind energy, geothermal energy, Hydropower, ocean energy and Bioenergy."Solar energy is the most abundant of all energy resources and can even be harnessed in cloudy weather. The rate at which solar energy is intercepted by the Earth is about 10,000 times greater than the rate at which humankind consumes energy." - (www.UN.org)

The cost of solar panels has reduced in recent years, making them more affordable and often the cheapest form of renewable electricity generation.

Why Solar?

Trant feel that part of the site would be suitable for a small renewable energy scheme using solar panels. Specific details on the proposals can be seen in the next panel, however, a small scheme on this site will deliver the following benefits:

  • A solar scheme would deliver a dual use combining renewable energy generation and a reintroduction of agricultural use to the farm with sheep being used to keep the grass short.

  • A solar use would only be a temporary additional land use and won't remove the land from agriculture use. The panels would last 25 years, the land would then be legally required to be returned to its current state.

  • A solar use would result in minimal impact locally, nobody over looks the site and the area to be used for the panels can barely be seen from any side.

  • Current traffic levels using the Fletchwood lane and the site would be virtually stopped, the only visitors to the solar farm would be maintenance and cleaning.

  • There would be a 50% biodiversity improvement on site, this would include new planting, ecology benefits and improvements to existing plant & animal habitats.