Landfill Power: Solar Farms Rise From Waste

Plans have been approved for a large solar plant, set to be one of the biggest in England, which will span thousands of acres across parts of Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire. This development reignites the debate over solar farms being built on agricultural land versus utilizing brownfield sites.

In Bedfordshire, a 450-acre solar facility is currently under construction on Brogborough landfill, formerly Europe's largest. This site, which operated from 1983 to 2028, is now being repurposed. Over 62,000 solar panels will be installed across 168 acres, generating approximately 40MW of power, enough for about 10,500 homes and Cranfield University.

The landfill site continues to produce methane gas as buried waste decomposes. This gas is converted into 9MW of renewable energy annually and fed into the national grid. The solar plant will also supply power to the grid and through a private wire connection to Cranfield University, forming part of the Brogborough Clean Energy Hub.

Infinis, the company behind the project, highlights that the land's condition, requiring long-term management of gas and leakage liquids, makes it unsuitable for other uses. They aim to "bring landfills into the 21st century," converting "legacy environmental issues into productive energy assets." The company also manages Stewartby landfill, where methane is similarly converted to power, and has secured planning permission for another solar farm there.

Experts note that capped landfill sites can be suitable for solar developments, offering climate mitigation benefits and generally yielding poor agricultural returns. However, potential trade-offs, such as altered soil moisture, temperature, and airflow due to solar panels, require consideration, with effects varying across different regions.