AN ENERGY company which is proposing to install solar panels near Holsworthy has responded to concerns raised locally after a letter was sent to local stakeholders.

ILOS Energy is in the process of developing proposals to put solar panels on 38 hectares of land at Ratherton Farm, near Holsworthy.

It says that if the plans progress and are approved, it would save 5,025 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere and generate enough electricity to power 7,500 average homes.

However, its plans have been met with concern by campaigners trying to stop a different solar project at Holsworthy Beacon.

That proposal by Galileo Empower would see 1,100 hectares of solar panels and battery storage – with this plan from ILOS energy being 3.4 per cent of the size of those proposals.

In the letter to stakeholders, shared with Stop Beacon Solar, ILOS Energy said that the proposed development would consist of rows of photovoltaic solar panels which would have a south facing orientation, typically reaching a height of three metres and starting 0.8 metres above the ground.

They added that they would be supported by mental stanchions piled or screwed to the ground with grass, wildflowers and/or grazing in between. The site would be secured by a deer fence.

A spokesperson for ILOS Energy told the Post its proposals for Ratherton Farm solar were in the early stages of development.

They said: “Ratherton Farm Solar Farm is at a very early stage of development. ILOS New Energy UK Ltd is currently undertaking the technical, environmental and grid studies needed to understand the site’s potential for the site.

“The project remains pre-planning and has not yet passed the Gate 2 grid process, so there is still a considerable amount of work and consultation to be completed before any final proposals are brought forward.”