A NEW solar farm may be on its way to west Cumbria after plans have been announced for a facility which could power over 50,000 homes, according to the organisation behind it.

Firma Vogt Solar has announced plans to develop and operate Dean Moor Solar Farm, a proposed new solar farm and battery storage facility between Gilgarran and Branthwaite in west Cumbria.

It is anticipated that Dean Moor Solar Farm would have a capacity of up to 150MW of renewable energy – enough to power over 50,000 typical family homes every year.

Dean Moor Solar Farm is a joint venture between Firma Energy Ltd and ib vogt UK Ltd, coming together under Firma Vogt Solar.

The proposals will include solar PV arrays and battery storage facilities, as well as 'landscape planting' and 'ecological enhancements'.

The land is currently used for agricultural grazing, which will be able to continue beneath the solar panels, the developers said.

The UK Government and Cumberland Council have both declared climate emergencies in response to the climate crisis.

In April 2022 the Government’s British Energy Security Strategy set an ambition to increase the UK’s solar capacity from 14GW to 70GW by 2035. National Grid also estimates that this will require a twelve-fold increase in storage capacity by 2050.

Firma Vogt Solar will shortly be undertaking their first phase of public consultation in Autumn 2023, to give local residents and communities the opportunity to find out more about the proposals and give their feedback.

A spokesman said: "We aim to work with local communities to maximise the local benefits delivered by the project.

"We are pleased to offer a £500,000 benefit fund which, subject to receiving planning consents, we will utilise for the local community.

"We are currently engaging with local partners to identify potential projects we can assist with."