Executive summary
UK renewable energy company Low Carbon has announced early-stage plans for a 500 MW solar and battery energy storage project in West Oxfordshire, England. The proposed West Oxfordshire Energy Park would be located northwest of Lechlade and southwest of Carterton, near the villages of Langford and Little Faringdon. The project has the potential to generate enough clean electricity to power approximately 145,000 UK homes and avoid up to 154,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year. A public consultation is planned for early 2027.
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UK renewable energy company Low Carbon has announced that it is in the early stages of developing proposals for the West Oxfordshire Energy Park, a solar photovoltaic electricity generating station with associated battery energy storage and electrical infrastructure.
The proposed development is located in West Oxfordshire, on land to the northwest of Lechlade and southwest of Carterton, near the villages of Langford and Little Faringdon.
The project is expected to have a capacity of 500 MW. Low Carbon estimates that it could generate enough clean electricity each year to power approximately 145,000 UK homes, equivalent to the electricity needs of the whole West Oxfordshire district. The project could also avoid up to 154,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.
The proposed development will include solar panels, battery energy storage and other associated infrastructure, as well as environmental mitigation and enhancement areas. Low Carbon said the project is being developed through an environment-led design approach.
Environmental surveys, technical assessments and feedback from local communities and other stakeholders will help inform and refine the design as the project develops.
Low Carbon is currently engaging with local parish councils and other stakeholders. A public consultation is planned for the beginning of 2027, allowing local communities and other interested parties to review the proposals and provide feedback.
With a proposed generating capacity exceeding 100 MW, West Oxfordshire Energy Park is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). The project will require an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO), which will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate. The final decision on the consent will be made by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Low Carbon development director Ed Perrin said that, if approved, the project would contribute to the supply of renewable power in the UK and support government targets for solar deployment. He also said the project is in its early stages, with the company's immediate focus on engaging with nearby communities and stakeholders.