UK landfill sites to become solar farms

A couple of key players in the UK's waste and renewable energy sectors have agreed a deal to transform large landfill sites into solar power farms, generating energy for the National Grid.


National recycling and waste management firm SITA UK has partnered with Somerset-based British Solar Renewables to make best use of capped landfill sites that are no longer accepting waste material.

“Following the tendering process, we’re very pleased to be able to announce that BSR have been selected to pursue these exciting projects, which will help us to extract the maximum energy value from our capped landfill estate,” said SITA’s general manager for landfill Geraint Rees.

“This renewable energy technology will complement the existing energy plants operated on a number of our landfill sites, which contribute a significant amount of sustainable energy to the National Grid by capturing landfill gases.”

SITA already generates sustainable energy from its capped landfill sites by extracting methane gas. But with this partnership, BSR will now conduct a comprehensive assessment of SITA’s landfill estate over the coming months and will shortlist a number of sites that it considers to be suitable for potential solar farm development.

Energy crisis

BSR’s business development director Giles Frampton said: “I am delighted that a company of the stature of SITA UK chose BSR to pursue these renewable energy projects on its portfolio of brownfield development sites.

“We look forward to working closely with SITA UK over the coming months and ensuring that, jointly, we help to mitigate the looming energy crisis that is currently facing the UK.”

Once the suitable sites have been selected, development on the individual sites will be subject to planning permission from the relevant local authorities and consultation with any local residents where applicable. Any future planning applications will be pursued directly by BSR.

Luke Nicholls

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