A 25-hectare solar farm, complete with sheep, is on the cards at Crowland.
Push Energy wants permission to cover three fields at Decoy Farm with around 61,000 panels.
Permission has already been granted for an anaerobic digestion plant, biomass boiler and eight hectares of glasshouses, along with which the solar farm will create an energy park at the forefront of renewable energy production together with the use and the recycling and reuse of green waste.
The panels will generate around 15.5MW of electricity – enough to power 3,500 homes – and will be in place for 25 years.
Over the lifetime of the proposal, the solar farm will save 213,215 tonnes of Co2 – 8,525 a year.
Sheep will be allowed to graze in the field, keeping the weeds at bay without the need of machinery which can damage the frames that hold up the panels.
In a letter supporting its application to South Holland District Council planners, Push Energy said: “Weed control can prove difficult as it is hard to use machinery around the arrays to keep the weeds down without damaging the frames.
“Accordingly, it is common practice to use sheep to graze under the arrays and a short-legged breed such as the Hebridean can move around the arrays without causing damage.
“In this way, the land continues to be used productively for agriculture throughout the life of the development.”
The glasshouses will use heat from the boiler to grow plants and vegetables that traditionally would have to be imported from warmer climates in Europe or South America.
Push Energy is hoping to minimise the impact of the project on the landscape as much as possible.
The solar array will consist of a 15 degree and 20 degree mounting system in order to create the most efficient layout.
The 15 degree mounting system will be 1.7m above ground to the leading edge and the 20 degree mounting system will be two metres above ground to the leading edge.
There is a 4.8m and 6.9m gap respectively between each array.
The glasshouses measure six metres to the eaves with low pitched roofs and are a relatively common sight across the Lincolnshire landscape.
The glasshouses are located away from the main road that lies to the east and south of the site and majority of transient public views of the development site are distant ones.
The site will be surrounded by a 1.8m high fence to prevent unauthorised access.
During the construction and maintenance phases, grass reinforced tracks 4.5m wide will be constructed.
The cost of the grid connection is such that the solar farm project is needed in addition to the anaerobic digestion project to help bear the cost of the grid infrastructure costs.
An archaeological assessment has concluded that the site is archaeologically sensitive with prehistoric and Roman remains identified on higher ground to the southwest.
All groundwork will be monitored and any archaeological remains recorded.
The proposal was presented at a public drop-in session held on site in July 23 last year, but only three members of the public attended.
A decision is due to be made on the plan before August 28.
