Solstice Renewables
A UK top-20 solar farm developer, Solstice Renewables operated from 2013 to 2016. During this time the company developed 13 solar farms across the UK totalling 118 MegaWatts (MW) capacity – now generating enough renewable electricity to power approximately 35,000 typical homes. Another four sites received planning consent but have not yet been built, following the removal of government support. Solstice became known as an industry leader for: Best practice in biodiversity and ecological improvements, Pioneering educational support linked to solar farms, Good relationships with local communities and generous financial benefits, Thoughtfully designed sites which can continue in agricultural use. The management team behind Solstice went on to found a new company in 2017, Eden Renewables, an international solar and storage developer, sharing a similar ethos.
Solstice Renewables specialized in developing large-scale solar farms across the UK. They were known for their commitment to best practices in biodiversity, ecological improvements, and community engagement.
Solstice pioneered innovative educational support programmes linked to their solar farms, offering site visits and tailored learning sessions in schools near each project.
Every Solstice project included a community benefit fund aligned to installed capacity, to be spent on local projects bringing economic, social and environmental benefits to the area.
- Industry Acclaimed
Solstice Renewables won the 2015 Solar Power Portal Award for best ground-mount solar farm over 5 MW, for Verwood Solar Farm. They were also named one of the top 20 UK solar project developers by industry guru Finlay Colville of Solar Power Portal and shortlisted for the 2016 Community Energy England Community Renewable Energy Project Award, for Merston Solar Farm.
- Biodiversity Pioneers
Solstice pioneered ecological and biodiversity management plans on all its solar farms, now standard practice throughout the UK solar industry.
- Community Focused
Solstice prioritized good relationships with local communities, with generous financial benefits and thoughtful site designs that minimized visual impact.
“It has been a fantastic opportunity for the children to discuss possible future renewable energy solutions and to be able to relate these to their own schools and local community.”
“The environmental side has been very well thought through.”
“We can make best use of the land available to us in creating clean energy and promoting biodiversity through, for example, the creation of new wildflower meadows.”
“Thanks to the community benefit fund at last Ashcombe has joined the 21st century. This new technology is a huge boost to everyone who lives or works here or enjoys their holidays here and should really help the local economy.”
