A new £2.78m solar farm in South Cumbria has been given the green light.
Westmorland and Furness Council has today approved the construction of a new solar farm site in Barrow.
Plans to fund and construct a 2MW solar farm site on council-owned land at Sandscale Park in Barrow were approved at a meeting of cabinet.
The solar farm will generate green electricity to offset the council’s carbon emissions in line with its carbon management objectives which form part of the council’s developing Climate Action Plan 2023.
The site will bring about reductions in carbon for the council and is expected to result in savings of around 607 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per annum.
It is equivalent to planting 700,000 trees and would provide enough electricity to power the council’s five leisure centres or around 730 homes per year, based upon average UK households.
The solar farm will contribute to the council’s income generation, mitigate energy costs, and boost the council’s energy sovereignty, independence and security, the authority said.
