Published: 10 Feb 2023, 11:24
4.1MW solar farm to provide renewable energy for compositing plant in Crewe. Image: Cheshire East Council.
Gamma Energy is developing a 4.1MW solar farm at Leighton Grange Farm, Crewe, in Cheshire East.
The solar farm is expected to be completed by the end of 2023 and will provide renewable energy to power a composting plant operatd by recycling and waste management firm Biowise. This is part of the “next phase” in a relationship between Biowise and Cheshire East Council.
The green energy not used by the compositing plant will be sent to the national grid, helping offset the council’s overall carbon emissions ahead of becoming carbon neutral by 2025. The council stated the solar farm will help offset around 15% of its target.
The project is self-funded via the sale of energy to Biowise and the grid.
“To add a carbon neutral source of power to the process by which Cheshire East Council recycles its kitchen and garden waste into 100% organic compost should be congratulated,” said Bob Wilkes, managing director at Biowise.
Cheshire East is exploring a number of different methods to decarbonise the region. Alongside solar, council is integrating a number of green technologies such as heat pumps, improved heating systems and LED lighting.
“We are delivering a wide range of projects to reduce our carbon emissions, including decarbonising council buildings though initiatives such as low carbon heat pumps, LED lighting, solar panels and improved heating systems,” said councillor Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council’s environment and communities committee.
“We know that we can’t eliminate these carbon emissions completely by 2025, so projects like this one at Leighton Grange are vital, in order to offset some of those emissions and help us to reach our target.”