Consultation opens for Sealand Manor solar farm plans

Residents in Flintshire are being invited to give their views on early-stage proposals for a large-scale renewable energy project at Sealand Manor.

Renewable Connections, a UK solar and battery energy developer, is proposing a solar farm of up to 89MW alongside a 40MW battery energy storage system (BESS)

If approved, the solar farm, spanning 94 hectares of agricultural land by the side of the River Dee in Sealand, could generate enough electricity to power up to 33,575 homes annually while reducing carbon emissions by 16,902 tonnes per year.

The company is holding two public consultation events at The Fig Tree, St Bartholomew’s Church, Old Sealand Road, Sealand, on Wednesday 26 March from 2pm to 7pm, and Thursday 27 March from 10am to 2pm.

Residents are encouraged to attend and share their feedback before the formal consultation phase later this year.

Corey Isolda, Senior Project Manager at Renewable Connections, said: “This spring, we’re looking forward to engaging with local people in our informal consultation for the early-stage proposals for the Sealand Manor Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage project. Later this year, we’ll hold a formal consultation phase, and details will be advertised in advance. Community feedback is important to us; we welcome comments and feedback on our plans in the early development stages, to help shape our design proposals, alongside our environmental assessments.”

In addition to gathering public feedback, Renewable Connections will be consulting with statutory bodies, including Flintshire County Council, which has committed to tackling climate change through its Climate Change Strategy 2022-2030 and Renewable Energy Action Plan.

The UK Government has highlighted the importance of battery energy storage in managing renewable power, estimating that technologies like BESS could save the UK energy system up to £40 billion in operating costs by 2050.

Residents can submit feedback through the project’s online form at sealandmanorsolarfarm.co.uk, via email at [email protected], by phone at 0800 254 5011, or by post to FREEPOST SEALAND MANOR SOLAR FARM.

A formal consultation will take place later this year before Renewable Connections submits a planning application to Planning and Environment Decision Wales (PEDW).