A drop-in event to meet the project team for a proposed 40 megawatt (MW) solar farm at the former Richborough landfill, near Sandwich is being held today (March 13)
RBL Solar has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment scoping report to Dover District Council (DDC) detailing the information needed to accompany their plans.
On behalf of the developers, consultants SLR said in the report: “RBL Solar Ltd intends to apply for planning permission to construct and operate a 40MW solar photovoltaic array, substation and connecting cables on land at the former Richborough landfill.”
The site is just off Ramsgate Road and is the size of about 87 football pitches, and was a landfill maintained by the county council until it was closed in the 1990s.
RBL Solar’s report explains that the Roman ruins are about 75 metres from the area they propose to install solar panels.
Richborough once hosted a huge Roman fort, town and amphitheatre, and was the first permanent Roman settlement in Britain after the invasion by Emperor Claudian in 43 AD.
The new 40MW proposal will be on approximately 62 hectares of land. RBL says the land is currently unused, and vegetation growth is maintained through intermittent sheep grazing.
The new 40MW proposal is being dubbed RBL2, and sits directly south of RBL1 – a 5MW solar farm already operated by RBL Solar.
RBL Solar says the project will generate 81,000,000 kWh of renewable electricity per year, enough to supply 30,000 homes.
A project timeline estimates a start on site in early 2027, with completion by the end of that year.
The firm adds: “A community benefit fund will be set up to provide funding for local community programmes and charities. RBL Solar welcome any ideas for where the money would be well spent.”
Any solar farm of 50MW or more requires permission from the Secretary of State for energy security and net zero, rather than the local council.
The drop in is for people to see the emerging proposals.
It is open today from 3pm to 7pm at Baypoint Sports Club, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich CT13 9QL
The details, and an opportunity to give views, will also be available from tomorrow at: https://rblsolar.co.uk/consultation/
Ugly, horrible things. Very different from those impressive towers they demolished.