Enovert has begun construction of a new solar farm which will be built on part of the  Hempsted landfill, in a project that will see renewable electricity generated from the site of the former disposal site in Gloucester. 

In September, a topping out event to mark the first significant construction milestone (the final solar panels being fixed in place on the first phase of the development), was attended by local stakeholders, including former Gloucester MP Richard Graham, a long-time supporter of Enovert’s proposals for a green energy and eco park on the site, and Leader of Gloucester City Council Councillor Jeremy Hilton.  

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Speaking at the event at the site on Hempsted Lane, Richard said: “With this project, Enovert has effectively solved the question of what to do with large, former landfill sites which can’t be built upon. This project is a step in the right direction in the fight against climate change and gives Gloucester the important opportunity to generate its own subsidy-free green energy locally.” 

Gloucester City Council awarded Enovert planning permission for the 2.1 MW solar farm in April 2022. Energy generated by the solar panels will be used to help meet Enovert’s on-site electricity needs, with any remaining power exported to the national grid via an existing grid connection. The solar farm is on track to be operational in early 2025 and Enovert estimates that switching to solar energy will save around 294 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. 

Mark Silvester, CEO of Enovert, said: “We are delighted to be constructing Enovert’s new solar farm at Hempsted which will make a significant contribution towards meeting our onsite energy needs from renewable energy, while also supplying clean energy to the national grid. The Hempsted site is Enovert’s first Eco Park and we look forward to generating renewable energy from this former landfill site very soon.” 

The new Hempsted solar farm includes more than 4,000 solar photovoltaic modules covering 5.7 acres of land that forms part of the former Hempsted landfill site, which ceased taking waste in 2019. The installation is being managed by Devon-based green energy specialists Harvest Green Developments Limited, a leading provider of commercial scale solar installations.  

The 350-acre site, which is located 1.5 miles south-west of Gloucester City Centre, is owned and operated by Enovert. The landfill site is now being progressively restored in order to meet Enovert’s restoration obligations.  As well as renewable energy sources the site which stretches from Llanthony Road to the River Severn is also set to include a 250-acre wood featuring more than 100,000 different species of trees.  

Councillor Jeremy Hilton said, “the development of a solar farm within the City is not only good use of the land at Hempsted, but an important step towards decarbonising our energy right here in heart of Gloucester. This is another piece in the jigsaw on delivering the council’s aim in making Gloucester a zero-carbon city by 2045”. 

In addition to the solar farm, the site incorporates a household recycling centre operated by Ubico and a composting area. Approximately 14,000 tonnes of household garden waste from the local area is processed annually by Enovert each year to produce compost for use in restoring the site. The site also includes an existing facility which captures landfill gas converting it to electricity which currently produces 3MW of renewable energy. 

The expected life span of the solar development is estimated to be 25 years, after which the park can be dismantled, the components recycled, and the site restored for other uses.