INRG Solar is continuing to develop it’s global investment portfolio focusing primarily on solar parks in the UK and looks set to continue the momentum of development with a further 200MW in 2014

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• Flat or south facing
• Close to a 11kV, 33kV, 66KV or 132kV line
• Not in an AONB, Greenbelt or SSI
• Access for vehicles during build process
• Not overlooked by houses.
• Not in flood plain

To progress and enquiry on a site we would require information on the total area of the landownership and an indication where you would like the potential Solar PV installation could go as well as acreage marked. This can be provide either by ordnance survey map, estate maps or google earth.
As a rule of thumb 5 acres (2 ha) to 1MW of electricity production we would require sites from 25 acres to 250 acres

Confidential site appraisal
INRG Solar will provide a confidential appraisal of a site and report back to the landowner/Land agent with the results and suggestions on the viability of the site, simply email info@inrgsolar.com or contact David Dean on 07771 786227 to explore your site potential.

PV Planning Strategy
The key to the success in developing large scale PV solar parks is the selection of sites that meet operational requirements whilst avoiding planning and environmental sensitivities. INRG would typically undertake:

• early site appraisal to identify constraints that might give rise to controversy or delay at the planning stage. The most suitable sites would generally be visually well contained or screened by surrounding terrain and vegetation, free of public rights of way, ecology and archaeological constraints, and not on best quality farmland.

• effective EIA screening and scoping to establish the need or otherwise for formal EIA, and the scope of the environmental studies that will be required to support the planning application. These will typically include landscape and visual effects and ecology surveys.

• development of appropriate site mitigation, in dialogue with the project’s design engineers. Measures might include an improvement of boundary screening through the planting of trees, native hedging, and the sowing of wild flower meadow flora beneath and around the PV arrays to encourage local biodiversity. These features greatly enhance the ecological benefits of the site.

• timely community engagement.

• preparation of a planning application that presents a compelling case for the development, anticipates the questions likely to be asked by the planning authority and the public, and demonstrates the benign nature of PV technology.

Pegasus will lead the discussion with the planning authority on planning conditions and any legal agreements, to ensure that these are acceptable from the developer’s perspective.

Community Engagement Strategy
The type of community engagement strategy undertaken should always be tailored to the needs of the individual project.
In the current context, the self-contained and neighbourly nature of PV development would lead INRG to recommend an active community engagement strategy. This would ensure that the nearest local residents and statutory consultees such as Natural England are accurately briefed and reassured about the developer’s intentions.
Unless wider public interest is likely to be attracted – such as if the PV park is close to or visible from a local residential neighbourhood – the number of local interested parties may be sufficiently low to render personal contact with the members of project team to be a more appropriate means of community engagement than public exhibitions, leafleting, etc however projects will be assessed on an individual basis and the appropriate strategy implemented. Throughout the project, we would seek to build working relationships through consultation with local representatives.

Grid Connection Strategy
INRG Solar utilises the expertise of UPL to assess and manage the complex area of grid interconnection.
The process is time critical and requires careful management of liaison and assessment of the localised distribution network to ensure successful and economically viable interconnection.
With this in mind INRG would complete a feasibility study of the grid connection options with UPL. This study would be completed during an Exclusivity Period where following a positive initial feasibility study a formal application to the Distribution Network Operators eg EDF, Scottish and Southern etc would be completed to obtain a Grid Offer.
The actual Grid Offer confirms the capacity locally in the network and the cost of connection to the network. This is key to the viability of the project. A commercially acceptable Grid Offer is the first step in successfully developing a PV solar farm.
INRG outline the project process for grid offer and connection below to demonstrate transparency in our approach to this critical aspect of the project.

a) Process
1) Initial desktop assessment utilising grid records to ascertain viability of connection based on the 11kV, 33kV, 66KV and 132kV networks.
2) Following initial assessment, sites with potentially viable connection opportunity will be assessed as follows.
3) Subject to INRG Solar approval a formal application is then submitted to the DNO or TSO for a grid connection study and / or feasibility quotation.
4) Upon receipt of grid offer analyse the completed study and quotation to ensure it complies with INRG’s requirements and the Electricity Networks Association Recommendations in relation to the industry’s regulatory policies.
5) UPL will assess and make recommendations to INRG on the options relating to contestable and non-contestable works and when agreed, make a formal request to the DNO/TSO for full connection agreement.

INRG previously worked with Eversheds under the Feed in Tariff scheme and they have been at the forefront of renewable energy industry in the UK for many years and provide their legal expertise in the development of appropriate and bankable options and leases and other matters in the critical relationship of development.

Geraint Pullin Thomas leads the team dealing with the Option/Lease negotiations. Geraint is a Partner in the real estate practice group. His practice encompasses investor work, asset management, property finance, portfolio acquisitions, and clean energy projects.

As a member of the clean energy team, Geraint acts for developers, landowners and buyers of proposed and consented onshore / offshore windfarms and biomass plants. He leads the real estate aspects of Eversheds’ solar practice and advised bidders for the Crown Estate’s Round 1 Marine Programme.

Established in 2003, Pegasus Group has continued to expand its operation and now operates from eight offices throughout the UK. The Group currently employs around 100 professional staff, who are assisted by a large range of administrative staff and technical support.

Pegasus Group has considerable experience in a wide range and scale of renewable energy projects, ranging from on-shore and off-shore wind farms to biomass power plants, solar parks and anaerobic digestion schemes. They will provide a combination of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), planning and landscape advice.

They will manage the entire planning and environmental process for INRG from initial pre-application discussions and feasibility studies, to EIA and public consultation culminating in the preparation and submission of the planning application, proactively seeking to obtain planning permission thereafter.

Pegasus senior members of staff regularly appear as Expert Witnesses at Public Inquiries and Appeal Hearings for a variety of renewable energy schemes. This, along with our presentations to numerous renewable energy conferences and events, puts them at the forefront of the planning, landscape and environmental sectors in this field.

Their renewable team have an excellent knowledge of localities and geographic areas, bringing particular expertise in landscape and planning matters and they have a proven record of delivering results.

Colin Virtue is leading the team working on INRGs projects.

Michael Woods Associates is an ecological consultancy based in Somerset. We provide a range of services, principally to the construction industry, and always in relation to the survey, assessment, protection and conservation of British wildlife and habitats.

They balance their client’s needs with the importance of maintaining a rich biodiversity on the site and conserving protected species. Their staff are all highly qualified and experts in surveying sites for protected species and providing advice on appropriate measures to protect wildlife whilst not unnecessarily constraining projects. They also have particularly good working relationships with many of the local planning authority ecologists and where sites are found to have complex ecological constraints they engage in consultation to smooth the planning application process.

Michael Woods Associates have been involved in over 50 renewable energy projects ranging from small wind turbine developments of 80KW to large scale solar projects of 40MW.

Clive Onions is an Independent Consultant with over 35 years of experience in civil engineering, specialising in flood risk and water engineering related advice to Clients and Agencies.

The consultancy undertakes Flood Risk Assessments, Flood Evacuation Plans, investigates flooding events of local and national importance and provides general civil engineering advice. They work with a range of other Specialist Consultants to deliver a comprehensive service.

Key current roles include advising Bristol City Council on their Flood Risk Management Strategy, advising as Independent Assessor on the cause of flooding of approx. 400 new homes in North Wales and advising Bristol Water as their Project Manager on a planning application for a 9,000 Megalitre (150ha) Reservoir.

Clive Onions has been active in the Institution of Civil Engineers for many years and Vice Chairman of their Expert Panel on Water for approx. 10 years. As a result of this Clive was Appointed Independent Chairman to investigate the cause of flooding from the River Thames between Maidenhead and Teddington, when approx. 400 homes were flooded. He has also reviewed Policies for Government and other Agencies on Flood Risk and Sustainable Drainage matters.

Professional roles include being Chairman of the Industrial Advisory Board for the Civil Engineering and River and Coastal Engineering courses at University of West of England.

As a result of these many areas of activity in the field of civil engineering and flood risk, Clive is well known within the Profession and has good working relationships with many Agencies, assisting him to provide an efficient service to our projects.

Transport Planning Associates (TPA) is a firm of consulting highway and transportation engineers with offices in Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, London and Welwyn Garden City.  Formed in 1997 as Pinnacle Transportation Limited (PTL), the company has grown to provide transport consultancy services to a wide variety of private and public sector clients throughout the UK.

The company’s core business is to provide consultancy services on the Transport Planning, Traffic Engineering and Infrastructure Design issues arising from the development of land for a variety of uses, and arising from strategic planning and master planning.

TPA has developed a very strong track record of obtaining planning permissions and delivering projects across the UK.  As a result, the company’s technical staff are very familiar with a significant number of key local Council highway officers and engineers that are engaged in transport projects; as well as other specialist firms that are brought together by clients into development teams.

TPA is experienced in providing transportation input into EIAs.  The company has also carried out many access and feasibility studies involving abnormal/heavy loads or to constrained locations for solar and wind projects.

Cotswold Archaeology (CA) is one of the largest archaeological contractors in Britain, operating from offices in Cirencester, Milton Keynes and Andover. They are a Registered Organisation with the Institute for Archaeologists. Cotswold Archaeology is an entirely independent agency which is well versed in acting for private and public sector clients, including major developers and executive agencies. They pride there selves on their ability to deliver results on schedule; regular and informed client communication and consultation; respect for the client’s need for confidentiality, and a professional and impartial approach. They successfully complete in excess of 250 projects per year, which include Desk-based Assessments and Environmental Statements, as well as archaeological fieldwork.

CA has a dedicated consultancy department with considerable experience of working within the planning process, including appearance at Public Inquiry, and formulating archaeological strategies from initial consultation and feasibility, through to development construction. This necessitates regular discussion with archaeological advisors to Local Planning Authorities across the country, as well as bodies such as English Heritage and Cadw. Their consultancy department also has extensive experience in providing expert advice and services to their clients engaged in the renewable energy sector, having undertaken projects for Wind Turbines, Solar Farms and Tidal schemes.

In the UK UPL is the only service provider of utility infrastructure, smart metering and energy services offering a complete and fully integrated management solution. The business is led by a strong management team with a philosophy to find solutions that provide flexibility while keeping operations simple.

UPL will provide INRG with consultancy services from the initial grid feasibility right through to final grid connection.