Nominate five-acre Devon fields for solar or wind farms

Do you know an area of land that could suit solar power?

People in Devon can now put forward fields to help the climate and cost of living crisis. That is thanks to a project called Power Allotments, Devon. Do you or your neighbours know an insignificant five-acre field of poor agricultural value? Similarly, is there a field tucked away out of view behind hedges or sandwiched between a railway line? Alternatively, is there scrubland next to a road or by the village sewage farm that could host a Power Allotment? If so, tell Power Allotments, Devon here.

Power Allotments, Devon is a not-for-profit initiative designed to deploy cheap, clean homegrown power stations across Devon. To begin with, the financial benefits will help local communities. For example, sites will be run by nearby groups like Exeter Community Energy. Therefore, at a time of unpredictable energy prices and worsening financial strain, it’s an opportunity for communities to take control of local energy supply.  To this end, the schemes will retain the economic benefits locally.

How it works

For this purpose, the Power Allotments team wants local people to identify land that they think may be suitable for a community-owned parish scale solar farm or a commercial scale wind turbine. As such, the sites will also be managed for biodiversity net gain, becoming a haven for wildlife. Furthermore, wildflowers, orchards, ponds, bee and bat houses and bug hotels will feature.

Where new power stations are built, the landowner gets a reliable rental payment. With this in mind, the community can invest in and own the generator. Likewise, the income from the sale of electricity can be used to help tackle local energy issues such as fuel poverty and climate change adaptation.

Most important, how can you tell if an area is suitable? Devon Energy Collective in collaboration with Regen have designed an interactive map. Also, it shows if areas are unsuitable. For example the sites may be too far from the National Grid’s electricity connection points. On the other hand they may be in fields that are better used for food production.

In addition, the Power Allotments team has identified the following parishes as priority areas for potential new solar farms. Spread the word, and submit your nominations here.

Priority areas: