The Cleve Hill solar farm, initially intended for residential power, will supply Tesco and Shell with energy.
- 65% of the solar farm’s output will be channelled to Tesco supermarkets, aiding their sustainability goals.
- Shell will utilise the remaining 35% of energy to enhance its electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
- Cleve Hill’s development has faced local opposition due to its impact on the Graveney Marshes.
- The project underscores the ongoing tension between ecological preservation and corporate energy demands.
The Cleve Hill solar farm, covering 860 acres of the Kent coast near Faversham, is set to provide significant power outputs to major corporations. Originally planned to support 100,000 homes, the agreement now channels 65% of the farm’s electricity to Tesco supermarkets, helping the retailer achieve its sustainability objectives by supplying up to 10% of its UK electricity needs. Vicky Ellis of CPRE Kent expressed dissatisfaction, highlighting the project’s shift from residential to commercial utility: ‘This project was approved on the premise that it would power homes, not petrol stations and supermarkets.’
Shell’s engagement with Cleve Hill allocates the remaining 35% of the solar power to its expanding electric vehicle charging network. This collaboration aligns with Shell’s renewable energy ambitions, despite criticisms regarding its core oil operations. Rupen Tanna from Shell Energy Europe emphasized the importance of such renewable agreements in reaching UK net-zero goals. The 10-year pact with Cleve Hill reflects Shell’s strategic focus on sustainable energy, even as larger solar projects, like the upcoming 600MW Cottam solar farm, are approved.
The Cleve Hill project, backed by US-based Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, will integrate 560,000 solar panels, collectively generating 373 megawatts of power. This capacity is comparable to half of a small gas-fired power station’s output, marking a significant contribution to the UK’s renewable energy landscape. Due to flood risks in the area, a number of panels will be installed on steel frames of considerable height.
Local opposition to Cleve Hill is centred on the environmental repercussions, particularly affecting the Graveney Marshes—a site of natural importance. Critics like Ms Ellis argue that transforming the marshlands into an energy hub undermines the commitment to green energy originally promised for local residents. The debate highlights the broader challenges in balancing ecological integrity with the pursuit of renewable energy sources.
The Cleve Hill solar farm agreement exemplifies the complexities of renewable energy allocation between community needs and corporate interests.
