Soay Solar Farm & Thornton Greener Grid Park
Site Update
Construction of the Soay Solar Farm and Thornton Greener Grid Park is progressing according to timetable. Construction to prepare for installation of battery units is contained to a relatively small area of the site. Works have involved removing topsoil and receiving stone and gravel to the site.
We would like to thank you for your patience during this time, and we will continue to minimise any disruption to local roads where possible.
About Soay Solar Farm & Thornton Greener Grid Park
The Soay Solar Farm & Thornton Greener Grid Park is an innovative project on a 370 acre site between the villages of Allerthorpe and Thornton. The project will secure East Yorkshire’s position at the forefront of renewable energy generation while helping to mitigate the effects of global climate change.
The Soay Solar Farm & Thornton Greener Grid Park will represent a total investment by Statkraft of around £125m.
Once operational, it is estimated to generate enough electricity to power over 18,000 homes.
With an increasing amount of renewables on the British energy grid, Statkraft is leading in the delivery of grid stability services which are required to replace those traditionally provided by fossil fuel generators. Statkraft have proposed a Greener Grid Park alongside the solar project at Soay. Although a separate project, the Greener Grid Park is an intrinsic part of ensuring that renewable energy generated is fully utilised by the National Grid, helping to decarbonise the UK’s electrical network.
To find out more about the Soay Solar Farm and the Thornton Greener Grid Park, check out our Frequently Asked Questions, or Get in touch.
Preserving and enhancing bumblebee habitats
Statkraft are proud to be partnering with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to create and enhance bee habitats at Soay Solar Farm & Greener Grid Park.
In the last 100 years bumblebee populations have crashed, with two species becoming extinct in the UK. The land selected for a solar project has typically been dominated by intensive agriculture, stripping the soils of nutrients and the environment of wildlife diversity, yet they have the potential to provide an ideal environment for bee habitats because they can support a range of attractive microhabitats. The variety of dry and wet and shaded and sunny areas, if properly planted and managed, can encourage a wide variety of fauna.
That’s why we're working closely with the experts at the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to develop habitat management practices at our solar farms which enhance, create and restore bumblebee habitats. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust provides feedback on habitat, plant species and ground preparation techniques which enable bumblebees to thrive.
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Find your frequently asked questions here
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Local Suppliers
The construction phase is one way we can create economic benefits through inward investment. A variety of goods and services are required in this stage, and many local companies would be suited to get...
Read moreThe project team
Project timeline
Learn more about Statkraft and greener grid parks
What is a Greener Grid park?
Find out what a Greener Grid Park is.
Statkraft's history
A deep dive into the vast 125 years of history as Europe's largest renewable energy producer.
The history of Statkraft
A short animated video of the History of Statkraft
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