juwi receives planning permission for solar power project in Tolland, UK

UK-based juwi Renewable Energies has received planning permission from the Taunton Deane Borough Council for construction of a 3.5MW solar power project in Tolland, Somerset.

According to the company, the project site avoids designated landscapes and does not give rise to any ecological or heritage impacts.

In order to give an approval to the project, two key issues, visual impact and flood risk, associated with it were discussed .

To reduce visual impact, a substantial landscaping scheme has been developed that including planting about 30 semi-mature native trees as part of the construction process.

In an effort to satisfy the Environment Agency, Taunton Drainage Engineers and Somerset Drainage Engineers, the company also carried out detailed assessments and concluded that the project would not increase the risk of flooding.

Once completed, the solar project will generate over 3,600,000kWh of electricity annually while eliminating more than 1,500 tonnes of CO2 per annum.

Construction of the project would begin in September 2014 and is expected to be completed by December 2014.