The Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, has secured £700,000 of grant funding from the Government’s Mayoral Renewables Fund to build a solar farm in Derbyshire.
The Mayoral Renewables Fund from the recently formed Great British Energy aims to support Combined Authorities across England to deliver priority renewable energy generation projects on their own estates.
Derbyshire County Council will use the £700,000 to develop a 2MW solar farm on reclaimed land that was part of the Williamthorpe Colliery, a former coal mine near Chesterfield. The installation of the project is due to be completed in Spring 2026.
The site will generate around 1.9 million kWh per year which is enough energy to power over 700 homes annually, based on average UK households. The energy generated on the solar farm will be exported to the grid and will reduce Derbyshire County Council’s energy bills by more than £100,000 per year. Over the project lifetime, it is expected to save the council more than £3m.
Renewable energy generation is also a key part of the East Midlands’ approach to tackling climate change, and the projects will see the region’s carbon footprint reduced by an estimated 8,550 tonnes of CO2 over 30 years.
The project will also support the work of the East Midlands Combined County Authority’s Nature and Biodiversity Taskforce by including improvements to nature on the site. Wildflower and tree planting will create vital habitats for pollinators and wildlife to thrive.
The solar farm at the former Williamthorpe Colliery marks another clean energy regeneration project in the East Midlands region. From the former coal-fired power station at Ratcliffe-on-Soar to the STEP Fusion plant at West Burton, areas that were historically linked to coal mining are being transformed across the region with clean energy projects, providing more jobs and energy security for local people.
Speaking about the funding secured for the region, the Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: “I’m spearheading a green industrial revolution here in the East Midlands to protect future generations from the impacts of the climate crisis. Last year, we said farewell to the use of coal in our region, and we’re now transitioning to become a clean energy powerhouse, with solar being an important part of the energy mix.
“Our approach to tackling the climate crisis presents a huge opportunity for our communities. We’re creating a region that is more resilient and sustainable, which will support everyone who lives in the region to thrive. “
“As Mayor, I’m putting national net zero policy into practice on a local level by securing this funding – and this is just the start of our productive relationship with Great British Energy.”
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Your local sports hall, library and community centre could have their energy bills cut by Great British Energy, the government’s publicly-owned clean energy company.
“Our plans will mean more money can be spent on the services that make working people better off and help strengthen the ties that bind us in our communities.
“This is what Great British Energy is all about – taking back control to deliver lower bills for good.”
Great British Energy CEO Dan McGrail said: “Today’s support for new clean power projects in every region in England shows our mission in action – providing a lasting positive impact for the country by creating new jobs, lower bills, and a cleaner future.
“It’s important that communities feel the benefits of the energy transition and that we demonstrate the very real benefits it can bring.”
Keep up to date with the solar power projects by following the East Midlands Combined County Authority on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X.