Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ's

Why have you changed the name of the project to Postcombe & Lewknor Solar Farm?
After extensive feedback at the public exhibition regarding the original title of the project as Lewknor Solar Farm, we felt it was important to update the name to reflect the strong feelings expressed by attendees. As such the name has been changed to Postcombe & Lewknor Solar Farm.

Why have you picked this site for a solar farm?
All projects are assessed to understand the viability based on the available grid capacity in the area coupled with the availability of a contiguous areas of land within a commercially viable radius of any identified grid supply points.

It is close to a distribution grid connection with available capacity. This is relatively rare and allows us to connect easily and quickly. Options for the grid connection route are being investigated, which includes, where possible avoiding digging up roads and causing unnecessary disruption.
The site is well-screened with opportunities to provide further landscape and biodiversity enhancements and is a suitable distance from nearby homes. This means the development will have a minimised impact on local residents and the wider surrounding areas.
The site is not within any areas designated for landscape, ecology or heritage including Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Local Nature Reserve (LNR) or Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SCNI), and so will not impact heritage assets, protected habitats or species associated with these sites.
The site is well-located for construction and maintenance access.
There is sufficient land to accommodate the development alongside significant biodiversity enhancements.

What are the benefits of solar energy?
Solar energy is the most cost-effective way to generate electricity and does not emit carbon. Solar farms generate energy from a secure source and will help drive down the cost of electricity, which will be reflected in people’s energy bills in the future. They are also crucial to delivering on the Government’s response to the climate emergency.

Why are you calling it a solar farm and not solar factory?
As Solar Farm is standard terminology in the UK and industry and publicly recognised, we have stuck with convention for ease of understanding.

Will I benefit from this development?
Yes! The intention is to invest in improving the local environment and upgrade the footpaths using local materials and labour where possible, helping the local economy. A community benefit payment of £500/MW, to be spent on local projects.

Will the community benefit fund be linked to inflation?
No, the £500/MW is above market value and therefore will remain set for the lifespan of the project.

Why are most solar farms built on agricultural land?
Rooftop solar installations have their place for helping reduce carbon emission, but many roofs are not suitable and rooftop solar alone will not deliver the expansion of renewable energy needed to deliver energy security, drive down bills and address climate change. To achieve the Government’s commitment to delivering 70GW of energy from solar we will need BOTH rooftop solar installations and standalone solar farms. There is also significant policy support for farm diversification. Solar farms help local farmers by giving them a guaranteed source of income, whilst resting and letting the soil recover.

FactSheet: Solar Farms and Agricultural Land 2024 | Final (solarenergyuk.org)

Why aren’t large commercial premise roofs used for solar panels?
Many large commercial operations have or are planning to erect solar panels on their roofs. Whilst this will make a significant advancement to the UK’s quest to reach Net Zero, the energy produced will be used by the commercial operation’s own consumption needs and little or no energy will go to the grid for domestic use.

At Solar2 we fully support commercial deployment of solar energy but for the UK to have energy security and reach Net Zero, there must be significant investment in renewable energy for domestic use. By creating large scale solar farms, the UK will be able reduce reliance on fossil fuels, gain energy security and reduce electricity bills in the medium term.

Won’t the addition of domestic roof top solar panels produce enough solar power for the UK?

Whilst domestic roof top solar panels will significantly help towards reducing reliance on fossil fuels and towards the UK’s Net Zero ambition, it is not the single answer. Many roofs are not appropriate for solar panels due to location, build and the position to the sun.

As with industrial solar roof installations, domestic roof solar panel energy is predominantly used by the household’s consumption with a minimal amount going to the national grid. In addition, with the rise of domestic battery storage, electric vehicles and heat pumps, UK residents with solar panels are exporting less energy.

The addition of large-scale solar farms will ensure that energy consumption will be delivered via renewable technology, reducing energy bills in the medium term and significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Are the panels too close to local houses?
You may have seen the site map; this ‘red line area’ is the land for the development rather than the specific location of the solar panels. Much of the area around the fringes of the site will be set aside for biodiversity enhancements such as new hedgerows or wildflower planting. This will create natural buffers of a suitable distance from residential homes. Please refer to the proposed plan to understand the solar panel layout.

Whilst there is no legislation to dictate the distance required for solar panels from homes and building as this would be prohibitive for domestic installations, we try to keep the impact as minimal as possible by carefully planning the location of the panels and introducing additional hedgerow planting to further enhance biodiversity and help mitigate the impacts of the development.

Will there be a lot of concrete used in the build of the solar farm?
Solar farms do not require concrete in the main due to the panels being pile driven into the ground rather than set in concrete. Whilst there will be a requirement for concrete for the base of the substation, this is kept to a minimum.

How high are the solar panels at the highest position?
The solar panels will be on mounts that piled into the ground, at their highest position they will measure 3.1 meters.

Do the motors for the solar panels draw electricity from the grid?
Yes, the motors to maximise the position of the solar panels for optimal efficiency will draw electricity from the grid. However, this is at a very low voltage and the electricity produced will significantly outweigh the amount used.

Will the solar farm affect the landscape?
There will be a change in the landscape, we absolutely acknowledge this. However, we do our best to plan the panel locations and additional planting to mitigate the impact on the local landscape as much as possible.

Will there be disturbance from construction?
We will manage traffic and disruption to ensure that there is minimal impact on local residents. We will agree a plan with the Council to ensure this is managed properly. Construction is anticipated to take around 6 months.

Will construction vehicles access the site via the village roads?
The access route has been carefully considered to minimise disruption on the local road network. The construction period will last approximately 6 months and in this time, there will be an increase in vehicles accessing the site for construction purposes. Once constructed, the impact on the road network will return to normal.

Couldn’t you put a wind farm on neighbouring hillsides instead?
Our expertise is in finding and developing sites suitable for solar energy. We do have a sister company, Wind2, that develops onshore wind proposals.

We’re not looking to develop a wind farm near Lewknor, and we don’t believe the surrounding landscape would be suitable. There is also a lack of adequate wind resource in the area to make a windfarm commercially viable.

If approved, how much will the developer receive in government funded subsidies?
While subsidies have historically been available for renewable energy projects, these stopped in 2014. As such, there are currently no subsidies available for projects of this nature.

Who is your financial backer?
Solar2 is the developer of this site and has partnered with Recurrent Energy on seven of its projects.

Recurrent Energy is one of the world’s largest and most geographically diversified utility-scale solar and energy storage project development, ownership and operations platforms. Recurrent Energy are a subsidiary of Canadian Solar who in their third-quarter results, posted in 2022, showed revenue of USD 1.93 billion and saw them ship 6000MW worth of panels. Recurrent Energy has also recently secured a $500 million preferred equity investment commitment, convertible into common equity, from BlackRock through a fund managed by its Climate Infrastructure business (“BlackRock”). The $500 million investment will represent 20% of the outstanding fully diluted shares of Recurrent Energy on an as-converted basis. The investment will provide Recurrent Energy with additional capital to grow its high value project development pipeline while executing its strategy to transition from a pure developer to a developer plus long-term owner and operator in select markets including the UK.

Will the public right of way accessed from Salt Lane be affected?
No, the public right of way (PRoW) will be protected and upgraded. The legal width of the PRoW is 10 feet, the total width of the PRoW will be over 40 meters wide, which to put some context against this, is wider than the M40.

There will be planting to screen both the fencing and the solar panels, with the width of the open area, which includes the PRoW and private land amounting to approximately 30m which is illustrated in the file below.

Postcombe Lewknor Solar Farm P Ro W Section

We use the field off of Salt Lane for recreational activities, how will you ensure we can still do this?
Whilst we understand from feedback given at the public exhibition that the field accessed via Salt Lane is well used for recreational activities, we can confirm that the legal width of the PRoW is 10 feet (3m). The land outside of the PRoW is not for public access. This will not change if the solar farm gains planning approval. If the scheme becomes operational, the public rights to use the footpath will remain.

Why was the Public Right of Way (PRoW) from Salt Lane marked as a track on the site plan at the public exhibition?
We use Ordnance Survey, the government’s mapping service to ensure our information regarding sites is accurate. The PRoW has been marked by Ordnance Survey as a track, however we are entirely aware of its status and will not only be maintaining it, but also enhancing it.

Does the Public Right of Way (PRoW) have Grade II listed status due to the historic Funeral Path?
The PRoW is not Grade II listed, nor a Designated Heritage Site, however, it is recognised by South Oxfordshire District Council as a Non Designated Heritage Asset. As a PRoW, it will not be affected by the solar farm and once construction is completed with be enhanced. Please see information above regarding how the PRoW will be enhanced.

Who is responsible for decommissioning the solar farm and removing the panels at the end of its lifespan?
A full decommissioning plan will be agreed with South Oxfordshire District Council and the landowners. This will be part of the planning conditions linked to the project.

An experienced third-party surveyor will value the cost of having the site reinstated and this amount will be lodged with the council as a bond.

This figure can only be accessed by the council for decommissioning and will be re-evaluated every five years to ensure the value is sufficient.

Will this development reduce the value of our property?
There is no evidence in the UK that any solar farm has devalued a property.

Research elsewhere seems to point to renewable energy projects having little impact on property values, with other factors being considered more likely to affect the prices.

How will the site be secured? If there are cameras, how will these be used?
Whilst the proposals are still being developed, it is most likely that a number of motion activated security cameras will be used to secure the solar assets, facing directly towards these elements and not be intended to capture the outside of the site.

Are the solar panels recyclable?
In most cases, up to 99% of a solar panel is recyclable. There are well established processes for this in the UK. For example, companies such as PV Cycle UK have dedicated infrastructure and work closely with producers to ensure compliance with legislation.

You can find out more about panel recycling and the materials used in Everything Under the Sun: The Facts about Solar.

Do the solar panels produce any noise?
The panels themselves do not produce any noise. If the panels are mounted to a tracking frame, then a small amount of noise is emitted by the tracking motors – however this is negligible and not likely to be heard.

Will the addition of the solar panels affect local flooding?
The installation of solar panels typically has a minimal impact on local flooding. Solar panels are designed to be mounted on structures and elevated above the ground, which allows water to flow freely underneath them. Additionally, solar panels themselves are not known to cause water accumulation or disruption to natural drainage patterns.

A detailed Hydrology or Flood Risk Assessment has been undertaken which includes a desk study review with recommended mitigation measures.

Are the solar panels cleaned using chemicals?
Manufacturers typically advise against using harmful chemicals or detergents to clean solar panels. De-ionized water is a common and environmentally friendly choice for cleaning solar panels because it helps prevent damage and minimises the introduction of chemicals into the environment. This approach aligns with best practices for solar panel maintenance and environmental sustainability.

Do the solar panels produce any glint and glare?
Solar panels are primarily designed to absorb light for energy generation rather than reflecting it. An assessment of potential glint and glare impacts has been conducted, taking into account nearby sensitive areas or receptors. This assessment ensures that any potential issues are thoroughly considered and mitigated to prevent disruptions or safety hazards.

A full report has been conducted where impact has been found to be minimal. The report stats, ‘due to the momentary nature of glint and glare effects on route receptors as vehicles approach or move away from the PV array and the existing hedgerows, the overall impact is deemed to be minimal to none.’

The full report will be available when the planning application is submitted via both this website and the planning portal.

Will glint and glare from the solar panels affect drivers on the M40?
As per above, solar panels are primarily designed to absorb light for energy generation rather than reflecting it. An in-depth report has been commissioned which has confirmed our initial predictions that there will be minimal, if any glint and glare on sensitive receptors – including the motorway, and that the current and additional planting will further reduce impacts.

The full report will be available when the planning application is submitted via both this website and the planning portal.

Will the solar panels rotate causing additional glint and glare?
The panels rotate around a north south axis to track the suns movement through the day, the speed at which the panels move is not noticeable. With regards to glint and glare, as above, solar panels are designed to absorb light rather than reflect it, therefore glint and glare is minimal.

The full report will be available when the planning application is submitted via both this website and the planning portal.

Where will the solar panels be manufactured?
Solar panels are manufactured in various countries around the world, including several European countries, China, the United States and India.

The choice of manufacturing location often depends on factors like cost-efficiency, access to materials, and market demand.

What happens if a solar panel gets broken? Does the whole row have to be replaced?
If a solar panel gets broken, it does not necessarily mean that the entire row needs to be replaced. Solar panels are typically connected in an array, and they function independently. If one panel in a row is damaged or malfunctions, it can be replaced individually without affecting the performance of the other panels.

Is the efficiency of the panels consistent over time, or will these need to be replaced over the lifetime of the Solar Farm?
The efficiency of solar panels typically degrades slowly over time, but they do not need to be replaced over the lifetime of an solar farm. Solar panels are designed to have a long operational life, often ranging from 25 to 30 years.

In some cases, if the efficiency degradation becomes significant or if there are specific warranty conditions, individual panels may be replaced as needed to ensure optimal energy production.

To maintain the performance of the solar farm, regular maintenance and monitoring will be conducted.

I can’t/couldn’t attend the public exhibition, where can I view the information?
We understand that life is busy and its not always possible to attend a public exhibition, therefore we have uploaded all the exhibition banners to the website so that you can view them here.

What is the deadline for feedback on the plans for Postcombe & Lewknor Solar Farm?
In order for your feedback to be considered, we politely request that it be submitted no later than the 2^nd of August 2024 via the following link.

How do I register my support for Postcombe & Lewknor Solar Farm?
You can register your support for Postcombe & Lewknor Solar farm via the South Oxfordshire District Council. As we haven’t finalised the plans yet, the application has not yet been submitted. We will update the information and add the planning application number to the proposal website page which can be found on the Projects Documents page via the main menu above, and also, we will add it here.

How do I register my objection for Postcombe & Lewknor Solar Farm?
You can register your objection for Postcombe & Lewknor Solar farm via the South Oxfordshire District Council. As we haven’t finalised the plans yet, the application has not yet been submitted. We will update the information and add the planning application number to the proposal website page which can be found on the Projects Documents page via the main menu above, and also, we will add it here.

Will there be badger gates in the fencing?
Badger gates have not been confirmed but are a consideration and an update will be added when available.

Deer currently roam across the land proposed for the solar farm, how will they be affected?
Deer fencing will be erected to ensure their safety and that of the solar panels and equipment.

Will the deer fencing have razor wire?
No, the deer fence will not include razor wire. The fencing will be the same as standard agricultural wire fencing, but taller.

Are you and your suppliers GDPR compliant?
Yes. At the exhibition, Marengo Communications, our public engagement consultants, prominently display statements detailing what information we are collecting, on whose behalf, and for what purpose.

Their privacy policy was available for anyone to scrutinise at in-person event and can also be viewed at www.marengocomms.com/privacy. Marengo Communications’ data protection policies and procedures have been independently assessed and accredited as compliant by third-party experts in the field, so you can be assured that your data is collected, stored, and processed in a sensitive, secure, and legally compliant manner, and that the data you give us as part of our consultation will only be used for the purposes of informing that consultation.

In addition, the privacy policy for Solar2 can be viewed via the following links on the Postcombe & Lewknor Solar Farm Privacy Policy webpage and the Solar2 Privacy Policy webpage.

With regards to the industry recognised questionnaire hosting platform, Surveymonkey, their privacy policy can be viewed via the following link.