Substation work starts at new South Yorkshire solar energy site

Work on building the new substation that will manage the electrical output from a new renewable energy generation and storage project in South Yorkshire is under way.

Leading renewables developer OnPath Energy is building the Common Farm Solar Park close to the Todwick Road Industrial Estate in Dinnington, to the east of Sheffield, which will be able to generate enough green electricity to meet the average annual requirements of up to 18,800 family homes.

OnPath has now brought in market-leading independent connection specialist TMS Grid to deliver the Common Farm Solar Park’s connectivity infrastructure for both itself and Northern PowerGrid.

The project’s 50MW battery storage facility will link directly into the Thurcroft electricity sub-station, around three kilometres to the north of the site, to help make the energy grid more efficient, facilitate more renewable energy generation and support the long-term security of energy supplies to UK consumers.

Work on levelling and preparing the 2,500 square metre substation site has now begun, with construction of the building expected to start around the end of the year.

The development of the substation will take around a year to complete, with up to 12 people working on site at any given time.

Construction work proper on the Common Farm Solar Park is expected to begin over the winter , with specialist infrastructure consultancy AECOM acting as lead consultant for the scheme.

It is scheduled to be complete in mid-2027, with the build out set to provide a range of opportunities for regional subcontractors and suppliers through the development period.

The project’s detailed ecology and biodiversity commitments will ensure it delivers a net benefit in biodiversity to the local community. New species-rich grassland has already been planted across the site’s entire 116 hectares to create a wildflower meadow has been established prior to the construction phase of the project.

Local consultation work is continuing to determine how the annual community benefits package of around £50,000, which could equate to around £2,000,000 through its lifetime, can best be used to build community value by supporting local community and environmental priorities.

Peter Eagle, chief executive officer at TMS Grid, says: “Our team has a wealth of experience of helping to deliver innovative renewable energy generation projects and works to the highest standards of quality, safety and sustainability.

“The Common Farm Solar Park is an excellent example of a modern, efficient project that will help to increase the amount of low carbon, green energy that’s available to all of us.”

OnPath Energy already owns and operates four onshore wind farms across Yorkshire, including the Penny Hill Wind Farm near Sheffield and the Marr Wind Farm near Doncaster.

Work on delivering the direct environmental, energy security, economic and community benefits that the Common Farm Solar Park will bring to the local area is beginning to accelerate.”

Martin Kellerman, construction director at OnPath Energy

Martin Kellerman, construction director at OnPath Energy, adds: “Partnering with businesses that share our long-term values to deliver sustainable locally sourced projects of the highest quality is a central part of our OnPath Together development approach.

“The experience and expertise that TMS Grid provides is ideal for this part of the project and we’re very pleased to be working with such a well-regarded firm in this field.”

Full details of the Common Farm Solar Park can be found at www.onpathenergy.com/common-farm

For further information on OnPath Energy, visit www.onpathenergy.com