Statkraft has begun installing solar panels at its Soay Solar Farm in East Yorkshire, marking a construction milestone for the company’s first UK solar scheme to enter construction. The project lies east of Thornton and is expected to start operating during 2027.
The development has a rated capacity of 49.9 MW, with 76 MWp of solar panels. Statkraft estimates it will produce electricity equivalent to the annual requirements of approximately 21,700 homes once commissioned.
Habitat improvement forms a substantial part of the design. Around one-third of the site is allocated to new planting and habitat enhancement, with the company forecasting biodiversity gains exceeding 130% compared with the previous land use. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust has advised on planting and long-term habitat management.
Soay is adjacent to Statkraft’s Thornton Greener Grid Park, where a 200 MW battery system offering two hours of storage was in the final commissioning stages when the milestone was announced. Together, the developments illustrate the company’s investment in renewable generation and electricity system flexibility in the UK.
