Cornwall at a Crossroads: Locals Resist Becoming the Solar Farm Capital of Britain

[Social Media]

 

Cornwall, once known for its rolling fields and historic industries, has found itself at the center of the UK's solar energy expansion. Dubbed the "solar farm capital of Britain," the county is increasingly covered by vast seas of black glass as energy companies capitalize on its sunny climate and proximity to power infrastructure. However, for many residents, this transformation feels less like progress and more like a threat to their way of life.  

 

 

The southwest county reportedly boasts over 27,000 solar panels, more than anywhere else in the UK, with many more planned under Labour’s green energy initiatives spearheaded by Ed Miliband. While these projects align with the country’s push toward renewable energy, they have sparked significant frustration among local communities.  

 

 

Residents and councillors are voicing concerns over the loss of valuable farmland, the lack of economic benefits, and the industrialization of Cornwall's iconic countryside. In St Stephen, a village near St Austell that has roots in the 18th-century clay and mining industries, the proliferation of solar farms has become a contentious issue.  

 

Over the past few years, seven solar farms have been established in the parish, and approval has already been granted for another site. Now, French energy giant EDF is seeking permission for a 200-acre solar farm west of the village, a project that could displace a third-generation tenant farmer.  

 

Rose Barnecut, whose family has farmed the area for four generations, criticized the proposal. “It started off incrementally, one little solar farm after another, and you accepted it. But then it becomes like dominoes, and suddenly it’s right on your doorstep on ground that should absolutely be protected,” she said.  

 

She added, “Farmers are in such a difficult position. They can’t afford to battle against it, and if they don’t get compensation, they’ve lost everything. Everything you see around you is going to be completely destroyed by this sea of black glass for no benefit. For the clay industry at least we had jobs; this will bring no benefits and no jobs.”  

 

Environmental concerns have also galvanized opposition. Many locals draw water from boreholes and fear contamination from toxins in solar panels, such as carcinogenic cadmium. Paramedic Mike Bulley, who lives near EDF’s proposed site, expressed unease: “It’s a concern, especially if you have a borehole, and we’re planning to live here for a long time. I asked for information on the cumulative effects, but they had none. That’s a great concern.”  

Wildlife disruption is another pressing issue. Julie Floyd, a local accountant, lamented, “The area is a haven for wildlife, and if they have to cross that busy main road to face a two-meter-high fence, it completely disrupts the natural way of things. The impact on wildlife is unacceptable. It’s just a crying shame.”  

 

Many residents argue that solar farms should be built on industrial brownfield sites rather than productive farmland. Small business owner Mark Blake described the situation as “farcical,” noting, “You can’t grow potatoes on tips, but you can put solar farms there. This should never have even reached the planning stage.”  

 

Efforts to resist the spread of solar farms have gained momentum. The Stop Trelion Solar Farm campaign, alongside similar grassroots movements, has pushed back against developments. In August, Cornwall Council rejected a solar farm proposal near Launceston, citing its visual impact and accusing developers of using Cornwall as a “dumping ground” for solar panels.  

 

Still, the pressure to expand renewable energy infrastructure continues. Peter Connor, an associate professor in renewable energy policy from the University of Exeter, acknowledged the challenge of balancing green energy ambitions with protecting Cornwall’s heritage. “Cornwall has a good solar resource—it’s sunny here because we’re in the south,” he explained. “But we don’t want the whole county to be covered. We have to be careful to protect the natural beauty of the county.”  

 

As Cornwall faces at least 30 additional solar farm proposals, covering potentially 10 square miles of farmland, the debate over its future intensifies. For locals, the stakes are high: preserving their countryside and heritage versus contributing to the country’s renewable energy goals. As councillor Nick Craker put it, “This new era of planning is going to define our countryside for a generation.”

 

Based on a report by Daily Mail 2024-12-27

 

 

 

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

Good on em to resist the insane Greenwashing and gaslighting.

[Nick Carter icp]

The EDL should be protecting the British Countryside , not building windfarms on it 

[Purdey]

Interesting that the photos do not show any solar panels. 

People are now discovering agrovoltaics or agriculture under solar panels and find it is a good way of farming. Vegetables grow well with some shade. 

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/agrivoltaics-olive-plantations-solar/

[Bkk Brian]

15 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Interesting that the photos do not show any solar panels. 

People are now discovering agrovoltaics or agriculture under solar panels and find it is a good way of farming. Vegetables grow well with some shade. 

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/agrivoltaics-olive-plantations-solar/

Isn't that because the permission for the 200-acre solar farm west of the village by French energy giant EDF is not yet granted and consequently built?

[SiSePuede419]

NIMBY Twits. 😄

[SiSePuede419]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Vegetables grow well with some shade. 

In Africa where the study was done and they don't use tractors or other modern farm equipment. 

[HK MacPhooey]

46 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

NIMBY Twits. 😄

Good luck to NIMBYs everywhere on this and any other issues directly affecting the British countryside and her centuries old traditions before it is completely destroyed by the relentless attack of the soulless loony-leftist Marxists

[SiSePuede419]

19 minutes ago, HK MacPhooey said:

Good luck to NIMBYs everywhere on this and any other issues directly affecting the British countryside and her centuries old traditions before it is completely destroyed by the relentless attack of the soulless loony-leftist Marxists

Yeah, Marx was very big on solar panels in Das Kapital. 😄

 

Also since when is a solar farm "socialism"....?

It's pure capitalism.

 

"Centuries old tradition "?

 

You mean poverty?

 

Stop using the internet. 

 

It's not a  Centuries old tradition.

 

Hypocrite. ✅

 

You're a <deleted> idiot. 🙄

[KhunLA]

5 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

The EDL should be protecting the British Countryside , not building windfarms on it 

So you didn't bother reading the OP, or understand the title.  Wind farms aren't mentioned anywhere.

 

To the OP .. .the ignorance of people, against progress is mind boggling.  Having solar is one of the best things we've ever done at the house.  Through in owning the BEVs, and it's pure BLISS. 

 

ROI should be in about 5-8 yrs, depending how much we abuse the AC and drive.

 

As pointed out by @Purdey, shade is beneficial to many crops.  You could also collect rain water, in areas that get a bit too much, or needed elsewhere.

 

There are no negatives to solar, considering the issues with other energy productions.

[KhunLA]

If people could think for themselves, and stop re-electing corrupt politicians who represent big business, then instead of tax pounds going to big business to set up solar farms, spend it on providing solar to households.

 

People would be self sufficient, but no profits in that ... 

[Purdey]

1 hour ago, SiSePuede419 said:

In Africa where the study was done and they don't use tractors or other modern farm equipment. 

Not exactly true,

The future scope of large-scale solar in the UK: Site suitability and target analysis - ScienceDirect

The technical and economic potential for crop based agrivoltaics in the United Kingdom - ScienceDirect

[Purdey]

2 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Isn't that because the permission for the 200-acre solar farm west of the village by French energy giant EDF is not yet granted and consequently built?

The point would be if solar panels had been put anywhere in the UK, a few photos would show if they were successful or not.

[Bkk Brian]

1 minute ago, Purdey said:

The point would be if solar panels had been put anywhere in the UK, a few photos would show if they were successful or not.

There are plenty in the UK already and with photos, look it up if you want. This one is not built......lol

[Watawattana]

1 hour ago, HK MacPhooey said:

Good luck to NIMBYs everywhere on this and any other issues directly affecting the British countryside and her centuries old traditions before it is completely destroyed by the relentless attack of the soulless loony-leftist Marxists

 

I used to be involved in the planning process for construction around airports.  Included wind and solar farms.  100% this is capitalist and not left wing in any way whatsoever.  The money swilling around to mitigate any objection was absolutely enormous.  One company was willing to pay out well over £7m to get their farm built.  No, not a corrupt payment, it was to deliver a way to avoid an airport radar from detecting the wind turbines.  I subsequently learnt that £7m was chicken feed to that energy company.

[JonnyF]

Good for them, sticking up for their local area and their way of life. 

[SiSePuede419]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Not exactly true,

The future scope of large-scale solar in the UK: Site suitability and target analysis - ScienceDirect

The technical and economic potential for crop based agrivoltaics in the United Kingdom - ScienceDirect

It was only a "agriculture review".  They haven't actually made a profit yet on "agricoltaics".

Just another meaningless buzzword.

 

The shade of the PV panels wasn't good for strawberries and resulted in decreased yields.

 

Potatoes did OK.

 

They're going to do another "literature review".

 

Whoop di doo.

 

Ivory tower academics, not common sense farmers. 🫡

 

From your reference:

The results of the agriculture review look promising for the potential of APV in the UK, as the two most common crops grown had an increased yield under shaded conditions. Although data was limited for the effect of shading on the yield of other crops common to the UK, there was data available such as the acceptable levels of shading for potato crops, and the crop reduction at different levels of shading for strawberries. This available information on the levels of shading allows a better-educated decision regarding the selection of PV systems to model in the next stage of the literature review. From the information gathered, the crops considered for the simulations will be cabbage, due to its wide cultivation in the UK, and its history of being considered in APV systems.

[Chomper Higgot]

I’m not a fan of solar panels on farmland, but what can be done to stop a landowner doing what they wish with the land they own when it extends, as we see here, to the eviction of a third generation tenant farming family.

 

It’s a way bigger problem than simply solar panels on farmland land.

[Petethefeet]

If every new building in UK had solar panels compulsory fitted and older buildings had solar panels fitted say by 2035 ,there would probably be no need for solar panels on green fields. Btw I don't know about growing fruit and veg amongst the panels but I saw one solar project where sheep grazed around the panels.

[richard_smith237]

1 minute ago, Petethefeet said:

If every new building in UK had solar panels compulsory fitted and older buildings had solar panels fitted say by 2035 ,there would probably be no need for solar panels on green fields. Btw I don't know about growing fruit and veg amongst the panels but I saw one solar project where sheep grazed around the panels.

 

And... If every house has its solar panels and they can become more energy self sufficient, the government has to get their tax through alternative means. 

 

i.e. with ICE vehicles the governments get a lot of tax from fuel sales.  As this dwindles and the move towards EV's continues, the governments will be forced to tax electricity, perhaps with night-time surcharges as thats when most will be charging their vehicles...  As more people become energy self sufficient the reliance on the Grid in the summer will dwindle, though in the winter in the UK solar panels on roofs is not sufficient for 'self sufficiency'.

 

I still see only nuclear as the viable energy alternative to fossil fuels. 

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

22 hours ago, KhunLA said:

To the OP .. .the ignorance of people, against progress is mind boggling.  Having solar is one of the best things we've ever done at the house.  Through in owning the BEVs, and it's pure BLISS. 

I've nothing against solar though it should either be done to allow farming to continue or be put on houses and non farm land. Try covering all the London parks with solar and see what happens.

 

In NZ the green insanity was covering too many farms in trees, and I believe the government recently acted to stop it.

[thaibeachlovers]

14 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I still see only nuclear as the viable energy alternative to fossil fuels. 

Wrong. Hydrogen is the saviour on the horizon. However, a lot of electricity has to be used to make it. In the Orkneys they use a lot and generate the power with solar to make the hydrogen. I saw a program on tv about it.

 

https://www.surfnturf.org.uk/

[Hamus Yaigh]

On 12/27/2024 at 4:07 AM, Nick Carter icp said:

The EDL should be protecting the British Countryside , not building windfarms on it 

Weren't they more into protest rioting and racism more than renewables?