A planned solar panel installation in St Sampson has drawn criticism because it is proposed for what is believed to be a greenfield site. If approved, the scheme would see 72 ground-mounted panels installed on agricultural land that has had no previous permanent construction on it.
Critics said the location was inappropriate because of wildlife concerns, and argued that the roof of the applicant's house beside the proposed site might be more suitable. No decision date is currently set.
Why are people objecting to the plan?
Opponents say the proposal would cover a greenfield site and that this could affect wildlife and habitats. They argue the applicant's nearby house would be a better place for the panels, rather than land used for agriculture.
Chris Chadwick is a "huge fan" of renewable energy, but not on greenfield sites.
Islander Chris Chadwick said he was against the application, saying:
"It just didn't gel with me that they were going to cover a greenfield site with solar panels."
He said he was
"all for"renewable energy sites
"but not at the expense of covering the greenfield sites".
He added:
"They've got a very large house there that they could put solar panels on the roof."
He said there should be an emphasis on
"preserving natural field which provides habitat for insects, bugs, moths and caterpillars that need to incubate underground there."
"The greenfield sites that Guernsey is losing, they're not going to make more of them,"he added.
What does the applicant say about the land?
The applicant, Mr L Shephard, told the BBC he disputed that the area was a greenfield site. He said the land had previously had greenhouses on it, which were later destroyed and buried under a layer of top soil, and that it had therefore reverted to agricultural designation.
He said the site was now not suitable for agriculture because of the buried structures, and that the solar equipment would power his house and up to seven other properties.
Could the panels be fitted on the house instead?
Simon De La Rue, commercial director for renewable energy company Little Green Energy, said there were
"many obstacles"to putting panels on houses. He said that after having
"a brief look at the roof space"on the applicant's house, features such as dormer windows could reduce roof space, meaning
"less panels"could be installed.
De La Rue stated that, for the
"same amount of cost in terms of labour, wiring and access", it would mean the
"levelized cost of energy is going to be very high whilst also not meeting the property's electrical demands".
He said planners needed to look at allowing people to
"reduce their reliance on the network but do it in a cost-effective way".
"What we all need to look at is how can we achieve that whilst looking after and protecting our natural environment,"he said.
Is there a way to balance solar power and nature?
De La Rue said he believed there were ways to install solar panels in a sensitive manner, including
"good planting policies when it comes to biodiversity"around the panels and ensuring that
"infrastructure that's going in the ground is low impact".
"There are ways to do it in a sensitive manner",he said.
He also said he believed installing solar panels on greenfield sites should be decided on
"a case-by-case basis".
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