PVTIME – The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has granted development consent orders for two large-scale solar projects paired with battery storage, paving the way for the construction of these nationally significant renewable energy assets.
The Green Hill Solar Farm, developed by Island Green Power, secured consent on 8 October. The project will host up to 500MW of photovoltaic generation alongside a 500MW battery energy storage system situated across North Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes. Once operational, the combined facility will deliver dispatchable solar power to the National Grid, smoothing out the variable output of solar power and strengthening Britain’s low-carbon energy supply.
The following day, on 9 October, the Steeple Renewables Project from RES received its DCO approval. Based in Nottinghamshire, the development comprises approximately 450MW of solar capacity and a 150MW battery storage installation. The project will bring substantial local investment and create hundreds of jobs during the construction phase, while adding flexible renewable generation capacity to the network.
Both assets fall under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime, which requires formal ministerial approval following an examination by the Planning Inspectorate. The fact that they were approved within a 48-hour window marks a notable acceleration in the permitting of large-scale solar and storage projects in the UK, as policymakers seek to expand domestic clean power capacity and reinforce grid stability.
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