Harnessing the sun – for everyone

Jersey Electricity has strict evaluation criteria for project sites that reflect the special characteristics of Jersey. We have evaluated nearly 200 potential project sites to find suitable locations, including brownfield sites and sites in the Built-Up Area. We consider many factors such as visual impact, land quality, biodiversity impacts and proximity to Listed Places.

All projects will:

• Have minimal negative impacts on the local area.

• Have significant biodiversity and ecological improvements, and be managed to maximise these benefits.

• Provide opportunities for future agriculture.

Agrivoltaics is the use of land for both generating energy and farming. Jersey has an excellent opportunity to become a leader in agrivoltaics research.

Weather events are becoming more common and/or greater in magnitude due to climate change. This is having an increasing impact on agriculture. 

Agrivoltaics aims to reduce some of these impacts, for instance protecting plants and livestock against:

Studies show that solar panels create a micro-climate effect that can boost soil humidity and water retention, decrease peak temperatures through shading and extend the growing season by providing shelter. Many crops are naturally partially shade-tolerant.

JE’s agrivoltaic partnerships provide an opportunity for diversification of agriculture, with advanced systems making commercial and market gardening more feasible.

We use bi-facial solar panels for our ground-mounted solar arrays, meaning some light travels through the panels to the ground below. This allows crops to be grown underneath while also increasing energy generation.

A solar array enables continued agricultural use of the fields. JE willingly signs up to a Planning Obligation Agreements for each site, meaning the sites must remain in continued agricultural use.

Solar farms are screened by existing or planted vegetation to minimise visual impact.

Placing solar farms on flat south-facing land or gentle slopes also helps to minimise the impact on the landscape. Whist existing natural screening is sought, shading needs to be avoided in the design of the panel layout, so the site can yield optimum electricity generation. A landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA) accompany the planning application.

No widespread ground levelling is required and there is practically no loss of soil coverage as enough sunlight and rain can get through/between the panels to maintain healthy plant life.

Solar panels have no moving parts. Any noise produced will generally be from the fans used to keep electrical infrastructure equipment cool. The silence of a solar farm is one of the things visitors often comment on.

Solar panels are attached to an aluminium mounting system which is bolted to galvanised steel posts that are driven into the ground. This avoids the need for a concrete base platform and makes it easier to recycle the system at the end of its life.

Depending on the size, approximately 12 weeks.

Solar modules are made to absorb as much light as possible, and not to reflect it. They are light converters and have extremely low reflection levels, which increases the efficiency of the cell. Any reflection that may occur might be caused by the mounting structure and would be limited, as the sun’s position changes all the time. 

Solar farms have been installed near airports worldwide. There have been no reports of disturbances from environmental tests or from open-space solar farm usage. In fact, pilots have been reported to use solar farms as visual markers for navigation.

All JE’s solar sites adhere to a Restoration Obligation, which forms a part of the Planning Obligations Agreement. This restores the land to its original state, before the solar farm, with added benefits of improved biodiversity, soil quality and new/reinforced, native hedgerows.