New solar farm set for huge area next to the A143
The location of the new solar farm near Bardwell. Image: Opdenergy.
A new solar farm is set to be created between Ixworth, Bardwell and Stanton, close to the A143, on a huge area consisting of 56 hectares of land.
Opdenergy is behind the development for the 42 MW project at Bardwell Fields and would be connected to the 33kV Stanton Primary Substation and operated by UK Power Networks.
The predicted green electricity generation would be enough to power up to 9,660 houses per year, and will save 1,498,000 tons of CO2 for over 35 years.
The plans for the development are to be considered by officials at West Suffolk Council in the coming weeks and has now gone out for public consultation at https://bardwellsolarfarm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Bardwell-poster.pdf
Opdenergy is an international group specialising in energy assets production, managing all its phases: development, financing, construction, operation and maintenance.
With 807 MWp installed capacity and a massive 8GW pipeline with financing agreements with some of Europes largest banks and pension funds, Opdenergy has become an international Tier 1 Independent Power Producer. and has nine years of experience of developing solar PV projects in the UK and a global presence across Europe, North, Central and South America.
Solar panels convert the light coming from the sun into electricity.
This technology has a large number of benefits; it can enhance the environment increasing biodiversity.
For example, when planting native wildflowers, clover and grasses, it can increase insect life, helping boost the small mammal and bird population.
Solar farms require little maintenance and if the site is well selected are also unobtrusive.
Solar panels are also the cheapest form of renewable energy and compete directly with gas-fired power stations to sell electricity.
Every kilowatt counts toward zero-carbon 2035; and the company said it is encourage people to support the planning application for the solar farm.
The construction of the site is anticipated to take around 44 weeks (11 months), depending on weather conditions and the site benefits from an existing vehicular access that can accommodate the development.
We should stop taking away our agricultural land to these large companies to make vast profits. Where are farmers going to grow food to feed the nation.
Put solar panels on buildings not to let these fat cats get even more wealthier they are only in it for themselves.
This is excellent news. I hope it goes ahead soon.
How many more good farm fields are we going to lose to these ugly panels . Once upon a time we could feed ourselves from the UK but now we import most of our food from abroad . This all down to this government and this idiot Miliband who if you remember was the ex Prime minister who had to have two kitchen s. The farmer’s must be laughing all the way to the bank steady income don’t have to worry about the weather or lack of water because they paid to nothing to hell with the inherit tax .
what’s more important food security or energy security.
once the fields have gone they have gone.
Hope council don’t buy these fields up and sell them at a profit like they did in Stowmarket for Gateway 14.
Then giving the planning go ahead on the land it owned.
This is a complete nonsense….we import 50% of our food currently….why does no one think about food security with more prime agricultural land being destroyed in favour of solar panels. Put them on Industrial and farm building roofs, multi storey car parks and brown field sites. No more destruction of agricultural land. Everyone in this country has forgotten what it is like to be hungry……….it will happen again unless this madness is stopped.