About Solstice Renewables
A UK top-20 solar farm developer, Solstice Renewables operated from 2013 to 2016. During this time the company developed 13 solar farms across the UK totalling 118 MegaWatts (MW) capacity – now generating enough renewable electricity to power approximately 35,000 typical homes. Another four sites received planning consent but have not yet been built, following the removal of government support.
Solstice became known as an industry leader for:
Best practice in biodiversity and ecological improvements
Pioneering educational support linked to solar farms
Good relationships with local communities and generous financial benefits
Thoughtfully designed sites which can continue in agricultural use
The management team behind Solstice went on to found a new company in 2017, Eden Renewables, an international solar and storage developer, sharing a similar ethos.
Industry accolades
Won 2015 Solar Power Portal Award for best ground-mount solar farm over 5 MW, for Verwood Solar Farm
Named one of the top 20 UK solar project developers by industry guru Finlay Colville of Solar Power Portal
Shortlisted for 2016 Community Energy England Community Renewable Energy Project Award, for Merston Solar Farm
Solar developments
Operational: Verwood, Dorset 20MW; Park Farm, NW Leicestershire 14MW; Sawmills, Devon 6.5MW; Newnham, Devon 12MW; Bedborough, Dorset 5MW; Ashby, NW Leicestershire 5MW; Merston commercial 5MW; Merston community 5MW; Warren Farm, Hampshire 5MW; Hungerford Farm, Hampshire 5MW; Granville, Shropshire 5MW.
Consented not built (due to regulatory changes): Kenniford, Devon 3MW; Cutacre, Bolton 5MW; Parchfields, NW Leicestershire 1.5MW; Ashby community, NW Leicestershire 1MW.
Ecological benefits
Solstice pioneered ecological and biodiversity management plans on all its solar farms, now standard practice throughout the UK solar industry.
Native wildflowers and grasses sown around and under solar panels. Vegetation can be chosen to target endangered species, for example birds or butterflies
Trees and hedges providing connectivity, forage & shelter
Bird and bat boxes encourage roosting
Beehives provide pollination and honey
Hibernacula for amphibians and reptiles to hibernate over winter
Ponds may be created for aquatic invertebrates
Sheep grazing where feasible to control grass
Pesticides and fertilisers avoided wherever possible to allow the land to naturally regenerate over time
Annual measurement and monitoring of both the variety and numbers of key plant and wildlife groups by Wychwood Biodiversity
This infographic shows the results of biodiversity studies over time
“Projects such as these could lead to self-sustaining nature reserves, which would be a huge boost to wildlife, the local environment and the local community…a shining example of how you can turn a basic, unremarkable grassland site into an improved site and newt haven.”
Educational benefits
Solstice became known for its innovative educational support programmes linked to its solar farms.
A ring-fenced annual fund for site visits and tailored learning sessions in schools near each solar farm
As of January 2020, 5000 children have benefited from 74 different site visits to Solstice-developed solar farms
Supporting the development of key science skills and knowledge
Highlighting how children’s learning relates to science careers
Introducing children to scientists and professionals working in renewable energy
“It has been a fantastic opportunity for the children to discuss possible future renewable energy solutions and to be able to relate these to their own schools and local community.”
Consideration for communities
Solstice prioritised good relationships with local communities, with generous financial benefits.
Thoughtful site designs minimised visual impact, with new tree and hedge planting for screening where needed
Continuing agricultural use of the land with seasonal sheep grazing where feasible
Every project included a community benefit fund aligned to installed capacity, to be spent on local projects bringing economic, social and environmental benefits to the area
Where appropriate, communities given the opportunity to invest directly in the project to get increased financial benefits
“I am encouraged by the high level of community support when developers such as Solstice Renewables are prepared to share the financial benefit from a solar park with the local community.”
Case Studies
Large-scale solar farm, Dorset
Manor Farm, Verwood
20.4 MW, commissioned March 2015
Powers equivalent of 6,000 typical homes - almost all of Verwood
£20,000 per year index-linked annual community benefit fund
Annual ecological surveys show tripling in breeding bird numbers over 4 years
Now operated by Belltown Power
“The environmental side has been very well thought through.”
Community solar farm, Sussex
Merston Solar Farm, nr. Chichester
One of just a few ‘shared-ownership’ solar farms in UK
5 + 5 MW, commissioned December 2015 & July 2016
Powers equivalent of 3,000 typical homes
Meadow Blue Community Energy owns 5MW community project
£3 million community benefit fund expected over lifetime
Greencoat Solar owns 5MW commercial project
“We can make best use of the land available to us in creating clean energy and promoting biodiversity through, for example, the creation of new wildflower meadows.”
Community benefit, Devon
Sawmills Solar Farm, nr. Dawlish
6.5 MW, commissioned March 2015
Powers equivalent of 2,000 homes - around a third of Dawlish
£6,500 index-linked annual community benefit fund
First community project installed fibre-optic broadband in isolated village of Ashcombe
Annual ecological surveys show large increases in varieties of grasses & wildflowers, with a 25-fold increase in butterflies and rise in number of birds of conservation concern.
Now operated by Belltown Power
“Thanks to the community benefit fund at last Ashcombe has joined the 21st century. This new technology is a huge boost to everyone who lives or works here or enjoys their holidays here and should really help the local economy.”