A consultation has opened into proposals to build a new solar farm and battery energy storage facility at Redcoats Farm.

The proposals, put forward by RNA Energy, are for approximately 35.1 hectares of land to the south of Sperberry Hill and Stevenage Road, between St Ippolyts and Titmore Green. The site is located south of the UK Power Networks Wymondley Substation, to which the proposed solar farm would connect.

The solar farm will provide around 25GWh of renewable solar energy each year, increasing the existing renewable electricity generation capacity in North Herts by almost 50 per cent.

Meanwhile the battery energy storage facility will have the capacity of 12.5MW, and will be used to store excess power that is generated by the solar farm - which will make power available to the grid during times of peak demand.

According to RNA Energy, the solar farm will allow the arable land to be converted into grazing land for livestock, and will include substantial hedgerow and tree planting, and wilder grassland areas around the perimeter of each field.

This will provide a boost to local pollinator, bird and small mammal populations - including mice, voles, hedgehogs and bats.

A spokesman for RNA Energy said: “We are delighted to be bringing forward plans for a new solar farm and battery storage facility to North Hertfordshire.

"Our plans will provide clean renewable energy to those living in North Hertfordshire and assist with the council's ambition of achieving net zero by 2040.

“We are committed to engaging with the community to better develop our proposals. We are proud of our plans, and we look forward to hearing what those in the area think of our ideas.”

The public consultation runs for two and a half weeks from January 7 to January 24.

A virtual exhibition of the proposals is available on the consultation website at https://redcoatsfarmsolar.co.uk/.

Residents can also get in touch via email at redcoatsfarmsolar@havingyoursay.co.uk or by calling the community information line on 0333 358 0502 from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm.

All feedback will be analysed before a planning application is submitted to North Herts Council.