FAQs

Humberhead Solar is a new solar and energy storage project in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

It would provide approximately 500 MW of clean, British-made renewable energy, supporting national energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Co-located energy storage would help balance supply and demand and reduce pressure on the grid.  

The project could power at least 115,000 homes. It would also deliver significant ecological benefits through habitat creation and good land management, while creating jobs especially during construction, helping support the local and national economy.

A Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) is a large-scale development considered by the Government to be of national importance.

‍Humberhead Solar would generate over 100 MW of electricity and is therefore classified as an NSIP under the Planning Act 2008. This means an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate and decided by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

The Planning Inspectorate will examine the application and make a recommendation, with the final decision taken by the Secretary of State. The process includes consultation with the local community, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, and other stakeholders.

‍More information on the NSIP process is available on the Planning Inspectorate website here.‍ ‍

The way we produce our energy is changing. The demand for electricity is continuing to increase and there is a clear need for affordable, reliable and secure energy generation in the UK.

Humberhead Solar will help generate clean, domestic energy, reducing reliance on imports and helping to stabilise energy costs.

We are aware of the proposed Yorkshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and its proximity to the Humberhead Solar project. In 2023, AONBs were rebranded as “National Landscapes”; however, the statutory designation remains ‘AONB’.

‍Natural England undertook a statutory and public consultation between October 2024 and January 2025 on proposals to designate approximately 463 km² of the Yorkshire Wolds as a new AONB. Following the consultation, Natural England considered the responses and evidence received and revisited certain areas proposed for inclusion within the designation boundary.

We can confirm that no part of the Humberhead Solar project lies within the area currently proposed for designation as the Yorkshire Wolds AONB.

‍We will, however, continue to engage closely with all relevant stakeholders, including Natural England and other statutory consultees, and with the future management body for the proposed Yorkshire Wolds National Landscape, once established. 

Further information on the designation proposals can be found on the ‍Yorkshire Wolds Designation Project website.

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We are beginning environmental surveys and the formal planning process.

We will work with local stakeholders and the community on developing and refining the design over the course of 2026.

Any feedback received during ongoing engagement will be taken into account. We would aim to submit our DCO application no later than August 2027.

During the application stage, there is usually six months of Examination which includes hearings that all stakeholders, including members of the public, are able to attend.

The Examining Authority, part of the Planning Inspectorate (PINS), then has three months to make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero who then has a further three months to make a decision. The Secretary of State may ask for further information prior to making a decision which can extend the timeline.

Subject to achieving consent in accordance with those timeframes, construction would start no earlier than 2029.

Our indicative timeline can be found on ‘The Project’ page of this website and within our Programme Document, located at the bottom of 'The Project’ page.

Yes. We have an agreement in place to connect to the National Grid at the Thornton Substation in East Riding of Yorkshire.

Humberhead Solar will support the UK’s energy security by providing clean, homegrown energy and reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels. As a low-cost form of electricity, it also helps keep energy bills more stable and affordable. The project could power at least 115,000 homes, strengthening the resilience of the national energy system.

The project will create local jobs and supply chain opportunities, particularly during construction, and will be supported by a Skills, Supply Chain and Employment Plan to maximise local recruitment and procurement.

Humberhead Solar will also deliver environmental benefits, including habitat creation and enhancement measures, contributing a measurable net gain for biodiversity alongside good land management practices.

Additionally, the project will contribute business rates to the local authority on land that would otherwise be exempt. Further details on economic, social, and environmental impacts will be shared during our consultation, along with any additional opportunities for improvements as the project develops.

We are committed to ensuring that communities benefit from our solar and energy storage projects including through direct funding to important causes in the local area.

During the development of the project proposals, we will consult on community benefits and, based on feedback, determine how best to distribute funding.

The operational life for Humberhead Solar will be up to 60 years.

Land under and around the solar panels will be managed as grassland suitable for grazing. At the end of the project’s operational life, there will be a decommissioning plan. This will detail the removal of infrastructure and restoration of the land to its original use.

Independent research shows that solar farms do not threaten the UK’s food security. In many cases, income from energy projects helps farmers diversify and improve their agricultural operations, while maintaining the long-term viability of their land.

During operation, land under the solar panels is left to rest, with reduced use of fertilisers and pesticides, which can improve soil quality. Grazing can also continue under the panels, keeping the land in productive use alongside energy generation.

Solar power also helps tackle climate change, the biggest long-term threat to UK food production – supporting the sustainability of farmland for future generations.

Well over 90% of materials in solar panels are recyclable and there are several established businesses that do this. Companies such as PV Cycle can manage faulty or expired solar panels. We expect these sorts of businesses to continue to grow over time, in direct proportion to the increasing number of solar panels that are deployed across the UK.

We are a signatory to the Solar Stewardship Initiative and committed to designing solar schemes that have minimal impact on the environment, including by recycling and repurposing as much of the materials used on site as possible.

At the end of its operational life, as a legally-binding condition of the DCO, the project will be required to be decommissioned in accordance with a comprehensive decommissioning plan. We anticipate that materials will be recycled in line with best practice waste management measures available at the time of decommissioning.

Yes. Modern battery energy storage systems (BESS) are safe when properly designed, installed, and maintained. They include safety features such as thermal management, sensors, and monitoring software to prevent overheating, short-circuiting or fires.

The batteries use technology similar to that in mobile phones, and large-scale installations follow strict safety measures, including consultation with local fire services, regulators, and authorities. Humberhead Solar will submit a Battery Safety Management Plan as part of the DCO, ensuring safety is built into the design and operation of the system.

No. Humberhead Solar has not yet applied for or received development consent and so cannot – and would not – start construction works.

Between June and September 2026, we are carrying out archaeology surveys as part of the pre-application process.

This includes digging some temporary trenches for archaeologists to confirm the findings of earlier geophysical survey work. Once complete, these trenches will be carefully refilled and land returned to its current use.

The work will ensure that the project understands and records any potential buried heritage and can prevent or reduce any impacts on this. The results of these surveys will be shared with local and national authorities, so that they can form a view on what other survey work may be required.