New Solar Farm Project in East Yorkshire Aims to Power 160,000 Homes

Renewable energy specialists PS Renewables and Ørsted Onshore have unveiled plans for the Clean Air Solar Farm in East Riding of Yorkshire, which is expected to generate around 500 megawatts (MW) of electricity, sufficient to power approximately 160,000 homes across the UK.

This initiative, which was previously known as Kingfisher Solar Farm, has undergone significant changes since its initial announcement in January 2025. The project now features a revised site boundary and a new partner, leading to its rebranding as Clean Air Solar Farm.

The solar farm will be situated across two parcels of land deemed suitable for solar energy generation. The northern site is located roughly three miles north of Beverley, adjacent to the A164, while the southern parcel is positioned southwest of the A1079. The project will connect to the planned Wanlass Beck substation, which will extend the existing Creyke Beck substation.

Due to its anticipated electricity output, Clean Air Solar Farm qualifies as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). Consequently, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero will make the final decision regarding the project’s consent, with a planning decision expected in 2028. If approved, the solar farm is projected to become operational by 2033.

Randall Linfoot from the Clean Air Solar Farm team commented on the evolution of the project: “Since we first introduced Kingfisher Solar Farm, there have been significant changes. The project was originally developed to make use of spare grid capacity associated with Ørsted’s Hornsea 4 offshore wind project. Since then, Hornsea 4 has returned to development, and we have been following the statutory National Energy System Operator (NESO) Gate 2 process to secure a new grid connection.”

He added, “New project partners PS Renewables are a highly experienced, UK renewable energy developer. Together with Ørsted Onshore, the project proposals and site boundary have since evolved. To reflect these collective changes and a fresh start to our proposal, we took the decision to rename to Clean Air Solar Farm. Clean Air Solar Farm will be able to power approximately 160,000 UK homes, making a significant contribution toward meeting the country’s ambitious plans to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

In June 2026, the Clean Air Solar Farm team will host a series of Public Information Days to engage with local communities. These events will provide residents with an opportunity to learn more about the project, interact with the project team, and offer feedback on the evolving design.

Randall emphasised the importance of community involvement: “We are committed to making a long-term, positive impact with these proposals and feedback from the community is critical. We would like to thank everyone for the time taken to engage with Kingfisher Solar Farm. All the feedback received to date has been carefully reviewed and fed into our plans.”

He further noted, “In June, we will be hosting events to update the community on the plans for the northern parcel and introduce ourselves to communities near our southern parcel. As well as introducing the project, these events will be an important opportunity for the project team to gather feedback to inform the design of the project and how the project can leave a positive legacy. Plans to protect and enhance the local environment, preserve local heritage, and increase biodiversity will be an essential part of our proposals for Clean Air Solar Farm.”

The Public Information Days are scheduled as follows:

• Lockington Village Hall, Chapel St, Lockington, Driffield YO25 9SN on Monday 22nd June 2026 from 15:00 to 19:00
• Beverley Memorial Hall, 73-75 Lairgate, Beverley HU17 8HN on Tuesday 23rd June 2026 from 15:00 to 19:00
• Walkington Village Hall, 17 E End, Walkington, Beverley HU17 8RX on Wednesday 24th June 2026 from 15:00 to 19:00
• Webinar on Monday 29th June from 19:00 to 19:30

Additionally, a consultation period for Clean Air Solar Farm will take place in Autumn 2026. Interested individuals can sign up for updates via the project website: cleanairsolarfarm.co.uk.