Plans put in for new solar farm at Sorel

Thursday 01 June 2023

Jersey Electricity has put forward plans to create a new solar farm at Sorel which, if approved, will generate enough on-island renewable energy to power 470 households.

The plans aim to construct a renewable energy generating station comprising of ground-mounted photovoltaic solar arrays on fields at La Rue De Sorel in St John.

If approved, the newly built solar panels will cover an area of 12.7 acres or 5.1 hectares and will be arranged in rows oriented east to west. 

Also proposed is a small substation, as well as the necessary grid connection infrastructure. 

Pictured: The proposed plans for the Solar Farm at Sorel. 

Jersey Electricity anticipates minimal impact on agriculture. According to the application, the land on which the solar arrays are to be built has been "identified as poor growing quality" and is therefore of "no interest to the principal growers on the island."

Moreover, Jersey Electricity is seeking permission for a "mixed-use" scene by which some agricultural use will be maintained, such as grazing under the solar panels.

It is the second of six applications for solar array sites being brought forward by the electricity company with the aim to deliver 25 MW of renewable energy, equivalent to approximately 5% of local annual demand. 

Pictured: Jersey Electricity has included a 'Chough Management Plan' in the plans.

In December, plans for 7,500 solar panels were approved to be installed in two fields in off Rue du Moulin à Vent in St. Clement.

The proposals also include plans for the enhancement of the hedgerows in the area alongside the creation of 150 linear meters of native species rich hedgerow.

As Sorel is home to Durrell's Red-billed Chough Aviary – which is helping to reintroduce the bird species into the island – the planning application also includes a specific 'Chough Management Plan' which outlines how the development area "will be managed and enhanced for Chough".