FAQs

Low Carbon has carefully identified this site as part of a detailed feasibility process to deliver a large-scale clean energy scheme. Many factors are considered by our specialists when evaluating appropriate sites for development. These include considering the available grid locally as well as various planning and environmental constraints.

Solar offers a low cost, safe and low carbon way of delivering clean power to meet this target as well as reduce the levels of carbon dioxide that are being emitted into the atmosphere by replacing electricity generation from fossil fuels.

The energy produced by Pear Tree Solar Farm will flow to Little Barton Substation. From there the power flows to the local area - flowing west towards Eaton Socon, east towards Abbotsley, Waresley and Great Grandson and north towards Eaton Ford and Little Paxton, before joining the main lines into the wider UK transmission system.

The renewable energy produced from our solar farm connects into a high voltage (HV) cable. As the electricity travels through the local network, it feeds into the low voltage (LV) cables, which power households and commercial sites (e.g. switching on lights / boiling a kettle).

While the nature of the daily power flows through the network will change frequently, due to the density of the population in the surrounding area, the renewable energy from our solar farm is highly likely to be used almost entirely by current households, farms, commercial sites and other electricity users in the local region (please see the map below) before joining the main lines into the wider UK Transmission system.

Solar panel arrays do emit electric and magnetic fields (EMF) in the same extremely low frequency ranges as electrical appliances and wiring found in most houses and buildings.

The average daily background exposure to magnetic fields is estimated to be around one mG (milligauss – the unit used to measure magnetic field strength), but can vary considerably depending on a person’s exposure to EMF from household electrical devices and wiring.

The lowest exposure level that has been potentially associated with a health effect is three mG. Measurements at three commercial PV arrays in Massachusetts demonstrated that their contributions to off-site EMF exposures were low (less than 0.5 mG at the site boundary), which is consistent with the drop off of EMF strength based on distance from the source (2015, Clean Energy Results).

As part of our ongoing work to determine the design of the project, we are undertaking surveys to ensure the levels of noise produced by the equipment onsite is within an acceptable range. Low Carbon will produce a full noise impact assessment as part of our application for development consent.

Similarly, studies are ongoing to ensure the visual impact of the Solar Farm on the local landscape is minimised. This will include screening and the installation of other mitigation measures in the appropriate locations around the perimeter of the land available for the project.

There is always a balance to be found when new development comes forward, with many factors and impacts to consider. Due to its proposed location, Pear Tree Solar Farm will potentially utilise land that could be used for agricultural production. However, the land take involved is minimal in the context of food production across Cambridgeshire and allows clean energy to be generated at greater scale and efficiency than rooftop alternatives.

Solar panels are designed to absorb light and not to reflect it. They pose little risk of glint or glare. Testament to this fact is the installation of solar panels at Gatwick Airport, alongside major roads and beside sports car raceways such as the ‘Top Gear’ test track.

The local renewable energy that Pear Tree Solar Farm will generate will reduce the need to import fossil fuel-generated energy from further afield, reducing the strain on wider Transmission networks and reducing the need for more or bigger pylons in the region. Our proposed solar farm contributes to the area’s aspiration for achieving net-zero objectives, crucial to combat climate change and increasing fuel costs.