Benefits

Energy

The potential site identified at Gembling can make a significant contribution to renewable energy and carbon emission targets, by generating enough green electricity every year to power over 14,500 homes.

If battery storage is incorporated into the scheme, the project will have the ability to capture any excess electricity generation during peak hours, making the project more efficient.

Ecology

Ground-mounted solar PV technology also brings with it a significant ecological net benefit to the site on which it is installed. These benefits include:

• The land used for the scheme will be taken out of the monoculture of arable crop production for up to four decades and reseeded with a wildflower mix, thus creating a wildflower meadow under the panels; this is not only a substantial benefit to a variety of wildlife, but also improves soil quality.
• Existing valuable habitat, such as woodland and hedgerows, is retained as part of the scheme and further enhanced with additional planting (which has the added benefit of screening the site visually).
• Additional habitat, with supplementary features and ecological enhancements, such as the introduction of onsite beehives and hibernacula for small mammals and reptiles, can be included within the scheme.

Community benefits

As a responsible developer TEKSS will engage in early consultation with the local community, with the aim of scoping the potential for community benefits as part of the proposal.