Whisby Floating Solar Farm: our proposed solar project

Welcome to the information page for our proposed cutting-edge 18MW Whisby floating solar project.

This page includes details about our current plans for the Whisby Quarry, Lincolnshire site, and ways to share your feedback.

This project will harness solar energy in an environmentally friendly manner, by floating the solar panels on the water surface to generate clean, renewable power.

The floating solar lakes at Whisby represents Conrad Energy’s commitment to innovative, sustainable energy solutions. By leveraging cutting edge technology, this project will provide significant environmental and energy benefits.

Conrad Energy has been working with Tarmac for several years to find energy opportunities in their portfolio of properties and the opportunity to build a floating solar array at Whisby was too good to turn down.

Key benefits

Increased efficiency from panels due to increased light levels and reflection
Improves the quality of the water by maintaining a steady temperature
No requirement to site the panels on productive farmland in Lincolnshire
Site is already well screened due to years of vegetation growth from the original planting for the quarry
Great access onto the site
Brownfield site

The location of the project can be viewed on what3words’ interactive map here ///seasons.hobby.mealtime

Project key facts

This project utilises the old quarries that have become lakes at the Whisby Quarry to locate the solar panels. The panels will be mounted on specific floating buoys on the water.
Floating solar on under utilised industrial lakes means the project will not be sited on highly productive farmland currently planted for food.
The solar project could have a capacity of up to 18MW (megawatts) and generate enough to power the equivalent of up to 4,737 homes.
It is estimated the panels will save around 4,194 tonnes of CO2 every year, or the equivalent of driving 54,455,820 miles.
Located on private brownfield/industrial lakes, the site will not be visible and is fully screened from public view.
The project is fully reversible and after 40 years the rested area will benefit from increased biodiversity and an improved ecosystem.

What happens next?

It’s important to us that the local community are informed of our current proposals for the site and can give us their feedback.

Please email your feedback to whisby@conradenergy.co.uk or post to Whisby c/o Conrad Energy, Suites D&E Windrush Court, Blacklands Way, Abingdon, OX14 1SY.

Conrad Energy will submit a full planning application to Lincolnshire County Council. An opportunity to provide comments and feedback directly to the Lincolnshire County Council will be available after our planning application is submitted.

Proposed site design

Project timeline

December 2024

Planning submission

Summer 2025

Planning decision expected

Summer 2026

Target construction start date

Autumn 2026

Energisation

40 years

Operation lifespan

FAQs

Project overview and timeline

The transition to a clean energy system is necessary to avoid the catastrophic effects of climate change to the environment, wildlife and humans. The UK’s climate change ambitions are amongst the highest in Europe and require us as a nation to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. More renewable energy generation is needed to meet these targets.

Floating solar on the lakes at Whisby offers the most efficient and environmentally friendly way to generate the power needed by the UK. It cleverly utilises the available land resources with minimal disruption to the existing infrastructure.

Floating solar generate clean, renewable energy, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This contributes to local, national, and global efforts to combat climate change.

Conrad Energy will submit a full planning application for Whisby Floating Solar to Lincolnshire County Council, within the Mines and Minerals department. Lincolnshire County Council is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. This solar project will aid the county in achieving its targets. An EIA screening has been submitted to the County Planning team and was deemed to be negative and we have held a Pre-Application meeting with the planning department and a site visit was held with the County Ecologist to determine the best way forward to secure the necessary BNG Gain.

We expect to submit a planning application for the project in Autumn 2024 to Lincolnshire County Council.

Whisby Floating Solar has two connections; the northern project will connect at the nearby Doddington Park 33/11kV primary substation, while the southern lakes will connect into North Hykeham 33/11kV primary substation. All of the cables will be run underground. No additional overhead lines will be required to connect the site to the grid.

We have undertaken an assessment of solar irradiance, available grid connections and environmental sensitivities in the area which identified this site as highly suitable for solar development. We believe this site is well-located for floating solar because it is making use of unused industrial lakes rather than putting the site on best and most versatile farmland. The productivity levels of the panels are higher with good light levels, and the floating solar will improve the quality of the water.

This site benefits from an available grid connection at the Doddington Park and North Hykeham substations. This means that electricity generated by the floating solar can be supplied to the grid efficiently, using the existing infrastructure.

Yes. While solar development was previously focused on the south of England, improvements in solar technology mean that an increasing amount of the UK is suitable, including Lincoln. The increase in ambient light, reflection off the water and white buoys, and the cooler nature of the environment will increase the output of the solar array by 15% – 20%. This is all at times when the UK needs additional solar power i.e. on cloudy days, early and late in the day and during the winter when the sun isn’t at it’s strongest.

The total area of the application site is approximately 56.4 acres as viewed on the project layout plan. This includes areas for landscaping and biodiversity enhancements as well as the solar panels.

Floating solar does not typically generate pollution or significant noise outside of the temporary construction period. Any elements of the development which produce noise (e.g. transformers, substation, etc.) will be located away from residential properties to prevent any impact on amenity.

Solar power is now one of the most cost-effective sources of electricity generation in the UK. The Government has decided that subsidies should no longer play any role in solar development, which is good news for the consumer. This means that Whisby Floating Solar will not receive any government funding.

Floating solar

Floating a solar farm on the flooded quarries at Whisby offers the most efficient and environmentally friendly way to generate the power needed by Lincolnshire. It cleverly utilises the available land resources with minimal disruption to the existing infrastructure.

Advantages of floating solar include:

Not using highly productive farmland
Making use of unused industrial lakes which are hidden from the public.
Using industrial site, so no impact on transport from an access point of view.
The coverage of the water reduces water evaporation, protecting a valuable resource.
Although the water is covered the design allows light into the water through innovative design.
Floating solar increases the efficiency of the system by promoting the chimney effect which allows colder air from the water surface to cool the PV modules. This ensures they remain at the optimal temperature for maximum energy generation.
Provides high energy-density per hectare while requiring minimal space on the water.
Allows free movement of water under the system – only about 20 percent of the water surface is covered.
Ensures that the eco-system is not disrupted by the run-off from harmful elements or plastics.

Floating solar panels benefit from the cooling effect of water, which reduces the temperature of the solar modules. This cooling effect enhances the efficiency of the panels, leading to higher energy yields compared to land-based systems.

Water bodies naturally reduce dust and debris accumulation on the panels, maintaining higher efficiency and reducing cleaning frequency and costs.

Floating solar panels are accessible for maintenance via boats, allowing for easy upkeep and repairs without significant disruption.

No, because the arrays will be floating on top of the water, they will not displace any floodwater. There is an adjustment in our anchoring system to allow the changes of the water level.

We will engage with both the local Flood and Drainage Authority and the Environment Agency throughout the planning process to aid in the design of the scheme and mitigation measures. A full Flood Risk Assessment has been commissioned and will form part of any planning application we submit.

About Conrad Energy

Conrad Energy is a leading UK energy company. We’re powering the move towards renewables through innovation and technology. We generate power to support the National Grid when renewables can’t meet demand and we buy, sell and manage energy for businesses nationally.

With a portfolio including gas, batteries, solar, wind and hydrogen, our 79 sites, operational or in construction, have a potential to generate 964MW of power making us one of the leading flexible energy providers in the country. Optimised and operated using our market-leading software, iON+, we’re at the forefront of shaping a more efficient energy sector that is both reliable and sustainable.

Conrad Energy has a very experienced solar development team with many years and megawatts of installed capacity. Find out more about Conrad Energy’s solar projects here.

Environmental considerations

Yes, floating solar panels on top of the water absorb the light radiance, which keeps the water temperature cooler, creating a better environment for marine life. The panels increase the oxygenation of the lake, which means there is less algae growth and results in a healthier ecosystem. In general, floating solar increases the quality of the water.

The array is designed to allow light penetration and water movement, ensuring minimal disruption to aquatic ecosystems and preserving biodiversity. It will also reduce water evaporation, preserving valuable water resources. Reduced evaporation helps maintain water quality by preventing excessive concentration of salts and minerals, which can be detrimental to both plant and animal life. A full 12 months of ecology and bird surveys have been carried out as part of the planning process.

Our ecologist is in the process of setting out a detailed habitat and biodiversity improvement plan to improve both of these important elements.

It’s important to Conrad Energy that the area is improved for nature, and ecological enhancements are an integral part of the development plan.

There will be some additional planting. However, the site is very well screened already due to being an existing quarry.

By covering portions of the water surface, floating solar farms can help reduce the occurrence of algal blooms, which are often triggered by excessive sunlight. This contributes to better water quality and healthier aquatic environments.

Construction

There will be minimal impact on local traffic. We will be using the existing access in and out of the site that the existing construction traffic use for the quarry. Traffic levels and traffic safety are important considerations for a project such as this. As part of the planning proposal, a Construction Traffic Management Plan will be submitted which identifies the route to site and sets out the rules to ensure works can be conducted safely. For example, designated times of day to minimise congestion at busy periods, avoiding problem areas/times.

The floating solar can take approximately three to four months to construct. Most of the deliveries take place during the ﬁrst six weeks. After the parts have been delivered to site, there are fewer vehicle movements as the site is built in situ and then made operational. Conrad Energy will be in communication with local neighbours, so you know what to expect and when.

Once the floating solar is completed, it requires very little maintenance as it will be remotely monitored by CCTV. It may be visited 10-20 times a year by a works van or 4×4.

The construction traffic will use the same route and access as the existing construction traffic at the site for the quarry. A Transport Statement will be submitted with each application which will set out construction routes and traffic management measures.

The operational life of solar panels is approximately 40 years. After this time the site is decommissioned in line with the list of planning conditions attached to the decision notice. It takes approximately 4 months and is undertaken by the project owner.

Tell us what you think

We’d like to hear your feedback to help us shape our plans. If you have any questions please get in touch.

Email: whisby@conradenergy.co.uk

Post: Whisby c/o Conrad Energy, Suites D&E Windrush Court, Blacklands Way, Abingdon, OX14 1SY

Whisby Solar Lakes