Shotwick Solar Park – How the solar park was built

Shotwick Solar Park – How the solar energy park was built

Solar parks can be built surprisingly quickly and with a minimum of inconvenience to local residents and businesses. Materials are brought in by road in accordance with a transport plan agreed with the Local Planning and Highways Authority. 

At the end of the park’s life (approximately 30 years), all hardware can be easily removed and the land returned to its natural state. 

Materials to generate solar energy

Galvanised steel foundations are piled or screwed into the ground. They are fast to erect and very strong and construction noise is therefore limited to a short period. 

PV modules are mounted to the frames and linked to inverters which convert DC power into AC power (and are easily removed). 

All cabling is weather-proofed and attached to the structure away from grazing animals. Panels are sometimes attached to the land by concrete “shoes”.