Solar
Harmony Energy is currently developing large solar PV farms, using our project expertise to support landowners throughout the development process.
Why Solar?
Solar PV is a proven, cost-effective technology and many countries around the world are turning to it to help meet their renewable energy needs. The falling cost of solar PV over the last decade means that solar farms are not dependent on taxpayer subsidies.
Solar energy is a natural and inexhaustible source of clean renewable energy with a low environmental impact, including:
- Clean, green electricity generation with no harmful emissions
- Generate noise-free electricity
- Have low maintenance requirements
- Can significantly increase biodiversity when built on previously intensively farmed land
Solar farm land requirements and site selection
- Land close to the national grid or a local distribution network connection point. The further away from the connection point a solar farm is located, the less efficient it becomes due to transmission losses.
- A detailed analysis of the surrounding land is then carried out to determine sites that have the lowest possible impact on built and cultural heritage, ecology, and the landscape.
Explore our FAQs to discover more about our solar farm developments.
Solar Projects
- Under Construction
- Operational
FAQS
Solar panels have no moving parts, make no noise and create no harmful emissions. The inverters produce a slight hum, but this is not audible past the property boundaries.
The technology is extremely safe and reliable. It does not interfere with equipment such as mobile phones, heart monitors, pacemakers, hearing aids or TV reception.
Solar farms typically consist of rows of solar panels up to one metre off the ground, fixed at an angle to maximise exposure to the sun. Spacing requirements mean the solar panels only take up around one third of the solar farm site, with most of the land being retained as open land, free from intensive farming.
Solar panels are typically mounted on steel frames, which are driven or screwed into the ground. As a result, solar farms involve very low volumes of earthworks and have very little physical impact on the land where they are located. Solar farms can be easily screened from view by setting them back from boundaries and by appropriate screen planting.
Our proposals typically seek to retain existing trees and hedgerows around the site. In addition, comprehensive landscaping is included as part of the planned solar farm development to ensure that there is minimal visual impact from houses and public vantage points.
No, the opposite. Solar farms have been proven to encourage wildlife to flourish during the rejuvenation period of the land.
No. The life of a solar farm can depend on the duration of the resource consent issued by a council. But a council can also impose a condition requiring the solar farm to be dismantled if it is no longer functional.
A solar farm can be dismantled as quickly and as easily as it was constructed and the materials are almost entirely recyclable (with core components comprising glass, silicon, aluminium and steel).
During the construction phase, there is a small increase in the number of vehicles delivering materials to the site. There will be a traffic management plan to prevent damage and minimise disruption. Once the site is built, traffic will cease almost entirely.
No. Only approximately 0.5% of a solar farm is in direct contact with the ground. The land underneath the panels will still allow the overland flow of water and not affect the ability of water to soak into the ground. We always undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment as part of our application, which will identify any special measures required.
Solar panels are designed to absorb light and not to reflect it. They pose little risk of glint or glare, and solar panels have been installed on many airport runways around the world. There are no visible lights on a solar farm.
Yes. Every solar panel company (importer or manufacturer) in the UK must join a Producer Compliance Scheme (PCS), such as the Government-approved PV CYCLE. This ensures that all solar panels are collected and recycled properly. At the farm’s end of life it is decommissioned, and the panels along with other elements are recycled.