Overview
Land at Pollington Airfield is a 5 MW solar PV facility in the United Kingdom, developed by Lightsource Renewable Energy. The operational plant contributes to the UK's renewable energy capacity.
Land at Pollington Airfield is a solar photovoltaic (PV) facility located in the United Kingdom, with a capacity of 5 megawatts. Developed by Lightsource Renewable Energy, the plant is operational and contributes to the country's growing solar energy portfolio. The facility is situated on a former airfield, repurposing previously developed land for clean energy generation. The UK solar sector operates under the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme and the Renewable Obligation (RO) framework, which have driven significant deployment. At 5 MW, this facility falls into the small-to-medium scale category for solar farms in the UK. Solar PV technology converts sunlight directly into electricity, with no emissions during operation, making it a key component of the UK's net-zero strategy. The plant's location on brownfield land minimizes land-use conflicts and supports local renewable energy targets. By generating clean electricity, it helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels and contributes to grid decarbonization. The facility also aligns with the UK's commitment to reach 70 GW of solar capacity by 2035.
Environmental context
The facility is located on a former airfield, which reduces pressure on agricultural or natural habitats. Solar farms can impact local ecosystems through land cover change, but repurposing brownfield sites mitigates these effects. The UK's temperate climate provides moderate solar irradiance, and the plant's capacity supports regional renewable energy goals while avoiding significant visual or land-use conflicts.
Frequently asked questions
Land at Pollington Airfield is located in the United Kingdom, near the village of Pollington in East Yorkshire. The facility occupies a former airfield site.
The facility has a capacity of 5 megawatts (MW), making it a small-to-medium scale solar farm in the UK context.
The facility was developed by Lightsource Renewable Energy, a leading solar developer in the UK and globally.
Solar PV in the UK is supported by the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme and the Renewable Obligation (RO), along with the UK's net-zero target and the British Energy Security Strategy.
By generating clean electricity from solar energy, the facility reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps the UK transition to a low-carbon energy system. Its location on brownfield land minimizes ecological disruption.