DESPITE strong objection from the local community permission has been granted for Renewable Energy Systems Ltd’s Derril Water Solar Farm at Pyworthy.

Announcing the news, Renewable Energy Systems Ltd (RES) senior development project manager Sarah Rocks said: “RES is pleased that the local planning committee has arrived at this decision. Derril Water was carefully chosen for this project, selected due to its viable grid connection, good irradiance levels, ease of access and positioning outside of any statutory environmental, archaeological and landscape designations. It will provide low carbon, low-cost electricity, as well as delivering a range of other environmental benefits for the local community.”

Karl O Mullan, head of solar at RES, said: “Considering that the United Nations COP26 Climate Change Conference is currently being hosted in Glasgow, this decision couldn’t come at a more pertinent time. We will need more projects like this to be delivered across the UK if we are to meet our net zero target – the Climate Change Committee, among other independent bodies, estimate we will need to deploy at least 40GW of solar by 2030.”• See next week's Post for more