A 58-acre solar farm is on the cards in the Eden Valley, which would supply over 5,000 homes with power.
If the bid is successful, it would be operational by summer 2024.
Kronos Solar want to develop the 20mw farm on land near Pallet Hill, north of Stainton between Newbiggin Road and the B5288.
It has already begun to draw up designs and will hold a consultation session for residents on Thursday at Stainton Village Hall for people to ask questions and raise issues.
The German firm expects to submit a formal planning application in November and if successful, work would start in winter next year.
Solar panels would be placed at a maximum height of almost 10ft.
The solar farm, which would mitigate the production of 14,000 tonnes of CO2 a year, the company said, would be dismantled after 35 years.
Kronos Solar said: “The council has set the ambitious target of significantly increasing the share of renewable energy sources in the future. This is in line with local, national and international targets set in an attempt to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and, thus, combat global warming.
“The targets for the generation of renewable energy are very ambitions and we need to pick up the pace.
“The UK wants to reduce its emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 and solar photovoltaics has an important role to play: 80GW need to be installed in the next 40 years and every council needs to play its part.
“A solar park of this size will enable the council to take a major step towards achieving these objectives.”
