Renewable energy developer BOOM Power has successfully accomplished planning consent for two projects. Firsfield Solar Farm, which will produce more than 50,000 megawatt-hours annually and Misslebrooks, a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to store 114 megawatt-hours of renewable energy, which would be discharged over a two-hour period.

Firsfield Solar Farm received zero objections form statutory consultees and therefore was approved under delegated powers by West Suffolk Council at the end of April 2024. The planning application was supported by a full Environmental Statement which details the significant gains for biodiversity through habitat enhancement and creation. To ensure no net-loss of skylark territories resulting from the proposed development, BOOM Power has secured a mitigation strategy to provide alternative skylark plots in off-site areas.

Firsfield Solar Farm will in return greatly assist West Suffolk Council to attain their 2030 net zero emissions objective as set out in their climate emergency declared in September 2019. With a temporary 40-year planning permission, this development will meet the annual electricity usage of 12,785 West Suffolk homes and displace 19,507 tonnes of carbon emissions (t/CO2) each year compared with conventional fossil fuel generation sources.

Jack Spurway, Head of Planning for BOOM Power addresses the approval of Firsfield stating:
“We have enjoyed a productive working relationship with West Suffolk Council during the determination of this planning application. Our design team along with our planning and environmental consultants have gone above and beyond to design the scheme which sits well within the existing landscape and keeps impacts on the local area to a minimum, the scheme will deliver against national and local net zero targets whilst also achieving significant gains for biodiversity”.

In addition, Misslebrooks Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) was also approved in April at planning committee by Test Valley Borough Council, Hampshire, and will similarly tackle the Council’s climate emergency declared in 2019. The approved development has been designed by the BOOM team with the input of leading technology suppliers, industry experts and thorough liaison with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service and therefore demonstrates conformity to NFCC Guidance (2023). Misslebrooks BESS will significantly help to secure electricity supply onto the local distribution network at a time of increased uncertainty due to various factors including the war in Ukraine. This scheme will also optimise the use of our existing electricity generation, including from renewable sources, which in some instances must be actively curtailed due to a lack of capacity on the electricity network.

BOOM Power’s Head of Planning, Jack Spurway, comments in relation to Misslebrooks: 
“We are grateful to the members of the planning committee who consented this scheme in line with the case officer’s recommendation, recognising the significant benefits that will be delivered, including significant biodiversity net gain using Natural England’s metric. Our design team supported by industry leading environmental experts have designed a scheme that respects the local landscape character and minimises impacts which led to the scheme being determined as acceptable in an important local gap”.

Founder of BOOM Power, Mark Hogan, states:
“I am pleased with the result of these two projects and the team have worked tirelessly to deliver top tier designs which encompasses the latest industry standards, biodiversity mitigation measures and the protection of the landscapes character. Misslebrooks is our first BESS to be developed in-house and delivers a robust and safety-first approach. Additionally, Firsfield being consented under delegated powers shows that this is an excellent scheme and entirely aligns with the Local Planning Authorities development plan for West Suffolk and their net zero targets.”

Mark continues, 
“I am delighted to report that these two projects bring our total consented portfolio to 365 megawatts with a further 957 megawatts currently in planning, both across solar and BESS. It is full steam ahead as we approach summer 2024.”

Jan Krüger, Managing Director of Pelion Green Future, BOOM Power’s joint venture shareholder and partner, states:
“BOOM Power’s portfolio is swiftly growing as a direct result of being a forward-thinking company and their ability to adapt in a high-speed industry. Both schemes have been consented with a deliverable design that will feed and stabilise the UK’s electricity market whilst assisting net zero targets. 2024 is shaping up to be a record-breaking year for BOOM.”

KeyFacts Energy: Renewable Energy news