PERTH and Kinross councillors have unanimously approved a solar farm which will power 15,400 homes.
The authority's Planning and Placemaking Committee was recommended to approve the Binn 39MW solar farm and battery energy storage system for approval.
Aberuthven-based renewable energy firm BLC Energy is “thrilled” to have its first project approved and found it “fitting” that it is in Perthshire”.
Councillors met to consider the application on Wednesday, July 8.
The 59-hectare site is less than a mile from Binn Eco Park and the farmland is currently used for grazing and growing crops.
BLC Energy has been backed by funding from the Octopus Energy Group.
BLC Energy’s managing director Neil Lindsay told councillors: “We are partnering and backed by Octopus Energy, through one of their funds.
“It’s fitting for us that this is our first project up for determination and it’s here in Perthshire. I’m very grateful for that.”
He pointed to the lack of objections from statutory consultees and said Glenfarg Community Council had been “actively engaged throughout this project” and “supportive”. He also said public exhibitions had been “very well attended” and praised the “enthusiasm” of local primary school pupils that he met with.
He said: “It’s not on prime agricultural land and we’ve designed it to keep it away from the very few neighbouring households there are.
“The battery infrastructure is 500m away and the nearest [solar] panels are 230m away.”
Defending the use of agricultural land, he added: “The site itself would require only 10 per cent of the land on Binn Farm, which is primarily used for livestock grazing at the moment and that will continue, therefore it’s not a threat to the loss of agricultural land and not a threat to food security.
“If all the solar projects in Perth and Kinross that are consented, in construction and in the wider planning system all got built that would result in the loss of 0.8 per cent of available agricultural land here in Perthshire – less than one per cent.
He added: “These projects are incredibly important for farm diversification.”
The plans were moved for approval by Conservative councillor Bob Brawn, who said the agricultural land was of a “low grade quality” and added: “We’re now in a case where we can be selective about these renewable energy sites and, in this case, it’s a site I think, which seems to be applicable.
It was seconded by Kinross-shire ward councillor Richard Watters, who said it was “the right thing to do for that location”.
The plans were unanimously approved subject to conditions.
Following the meeting, Lindsay said: “We are thrilled that Perth and Kinross Council approved Binn Solar and BESS Farm.
“This is exactly the kind of well-sited, responsibly developed renewable energy project needed to help Scotland and the UK meet climate targets while improving national energy security.
“We made a great effort to consult with the local community and design the solar farm so that it is sensitive to the local landscape.
“We’ll be adding 2.3 kilometres of hedgerows and planting almost 8000 new trees that will mitigate any visual impacts of the development and considerably improve the site’s biodiversity.”
BLC has also committed £19,500 each year – of the 40-year project – for local causes and is exploring the possibility of offering neighbouring households lower energy bills.
Lindsay said: “We believe those living closest to any development should benefit most, so we are investigating whether we can establish a local energy discount mechanism to offer those households reduced energy bills.”
Binn Solar and BESS Farm has a grid connection date of 2031, when it can begin exporting electricity to the National Grid.
Construction is expected to take around six months.
