Renewable Connections, one of the UK’s leading solar and battery developers, welcomed Peter Grant, SNP Member of Parliament for Glenrothes & Central Fife, to its Strathruddie solar and battery storage development. Renewable Connections co-founder and Director, Andrew Newman, and Development Manager for Scotland, John Lindsay, gave the MP a tour of the site.
- Solar farm will generate up to 25 megawatts (MW) of home grown energy, enough for over 7,000 homes
- 20MW battery storage facility part of the Strathruddie development
- First Scottish solar farm and battery storage consent for Renewable Connections
The 25MW Strathruddie Solar Farm and 20MW battery storage development by Kinglassie in Fife, was approved unanimously by Fife Council at committee on the 16th March 2022.
L-R Peter Grant MP, Andrew Newman and John Lindsay from Renewable Connections
Commenting during his visit, Peter Grant MP said: “I’m very grateful to John And Andrew from Renewable Connections for taking time to show me round the site before this exciting development gets underway. In Fife we get a lot more sun than people realise and there’s no doubt that solar power will have a key role to play in providing sustainable, secure and genuinely renewable energy to meet our domestic, commercial and industrial needs. Strathruddie has the potential to provide enough energy for 7,000 homes, about twice the total number of households in Cardenden and Kinglassie combined. I’m looking forward to seeing the development progress next year.”
In 2019 Fife Council declared a Climate Emergency. Over the lifetime of the project, Strathruddie will save an estimated 440,000 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted.
John Lindsay, Development Manager for Scotland at Renewable Connections said: “We take a responsible approach to the planning and design of our projects and work closely with landowners and local communities. Landowners and farmers looking to diversify their businesses and move into renewable energy, naturally want to work with a developer that has a good track record and proven pedigree of achieving consents. Our team are unlocking hundreds of megawatts of solar and storage. And as one of the most quickly deployable renewable technologies on the market, we believe solar has a critical role to play in helping Scotland to meet its energy targets and become more energy self-sufficient.”
The scheme will cover 47 hectares (115 acres) of land at Strathruddie Farm and involve the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels, which convert sunlight directly into renewable electricity. Construction of the development is expected to commence in late 2023, which once operational will have a lifespan of up to forty years.
For more information go to: www.strathruddiesolarfarm.co.uk
