The Electricity Act 1989 (Requirement of Consent for Solar Generating Stations) (England) Order 2025

Increased Renewable Energy Generation: Raising the capacity threshold for consent encourages the development of larger-scale solar power projects, potentially boosting renewable energy generation and contributing to climate change mitigation targets.

Economic Growth and Investment: Larger solar farms can attract increased investment, leading to job creation and economic growth in affected areas.

Energy Security: Expanding domestic renewable energy supply enhances energy security and reduces reliance on fossil fuels.

Legal Basis: The Order is made under the explicit powers granted by Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, providing a solid legal foundation.

Evidence-based Decision: The Order is justified and supported by a full impact assessment (published separately), which considers the potential effects on various sectors.

Environmental Concerns: Larger solar farms may have significant environmental impacts, including land use changes and potential effects on biodiversity, requiring careful planning and mitigation.

Grid Infrastructure Requirements: Integrating larger solar farms into the national grid may require significant upgrades to infrastructure, leading to added costs.

Community Impacts: Large-scale solar projects may raise concerns within local communities regarding visual impacts, land access and other factors.

Potential for Unintended Consequences: Increasing the capacity threshold without adequately considering potential secondary effects could lead to unforeseen problems.

Alternative Approaches: Other policies, like streamlining the permitting process for smaller solar projects, might achieve similar outcomes without increasing the capacity threshold.