Infinis Solar Developments Limited is part of the Infinis Group.

Infinis is the UK's leading generator of low carbon power from captured methane. We capture methane gas from landfill sites and disused mines and convert it to electricity. 

We're also a growing name in solar power and battery energy storage technology. This work helps to reduce the impact of greenhouse gas emissions, and provides secure, efficient local power generation. Read more about our services

Health, safety and environmental protection underpins our business. Infinis has received the British Safety Council Award for 14 consecutive years, and the RoSPA Gold award for 15 consecutive years. Find out more about our track record

We also believe in being a good neighbour and supporting local communities. We have provided funds and employee time to more than 150 local and national charities. Find out more about our approach to giving back.

Why build Colliery Junction Solar Park?

The national Net Zero Strategy proposes that by 2035, the UK will be powered entirely by clean electricity. That would:

• Eliminate carbon emissions from generating power
• Provide greater security over energy supplies
• Help tackle energy price volatility and fuel poverty.

Solar parks produce quiet, clean, renewable energy with no emissions. Sunlight is a long-term, free resource and it is reliable, even in the UK! By using sunlight to generate electricity, we avoid extracting any precious or finite resources.

Ground-mounted solar panels are one of the cheapest ways to generate electricity at scale.

The site will also include battery energy storage - allowing energy to be stored on site at times when grid demand is lower, and exported at times of higher demand to ensure no energy is 'lost'. This will help balance the local grid network. 

Additional Information

The planning application for Colliery Junction Solar Park will include a comprehensive Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, and measures to minimise any potential impacts. 

Infinis is conducting detailed landscape and ecological assessments. Once the results are known, we will tailor the site design to minimise any visual impacts and achieve at least a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain. The site's existing tree and hedge boundaries will be kept, and extra bespoke landscape planting will help to screen and filter views of the development. 

Find out more about how solar and Biodiversity Net Gain work together

The site is located in the South Yorkshire Green Belt. Around 13% of England's land area is designated as Green Belt land. Green Belt policy recognises that there can be 'very special circumstances' which may justify development on Green Belt land. Renewable energy generation, mainly solar generation in England, is recognised as critical to decarbonise our energy system - so it is potentially appropriate to develop it on areas of Green Belt.

Existing footpaths will also be considered for our designs and where possible, we will formalise additional footpaths to benefit the local community. 

A surface water drainage solution will be incoporated into the design proposals to manage surface water and ensure that the proposal does not lead to increased flood risk. A Flood Risk Assessment will be submitted with the application, and discussions will take place with the Environment Agency and lead Local Flood Authority.

The proposed development involves building and operating a ground mounted solar energy park with the following associated infrastructure:

• Solar panels mounted on metal frames and laid out in straight rows. Site topography, ecological sensitivities, impacts on views and other environmental considerations will influence the layout. The top of the panels would be up to a maximum of 3.5m above ground level;
• Inverters to convert direct current (DC) from the sun to alternating current (AC) for the national grid;
• A grid network operator and a customer substation would be located on site, (likely to be prefabricated buildings);
• A general storage unit;
• Battery units in prefabricated cabinets with a fenced and secure compound;
• External electrical equipment (e.g. transformers);
• Perimeter security fencing (deer fencing) up to 2.4m high;
• CCTV security cameras
• Access from the highway with internal access tracks through the site; and
• Landscaping and biodiversity enhancements, to be maintained throughout the operational life of the project. 

Solar Park developments require construction traffic to travel to and from site during a construction period that normally lasts between 6 and 12 months. Once in operation, very few traffic movements are needed to clean and maintain panels and other infrastructure. 

At the peak of construction, we would anticipate a maximum of 100 construction staff accessing the site daily using cars and LGVs, along with 15-30 HGV deliveries. Peak activity is expected to be for around 7 weeks, after which HGV movement decreases to 5 per day for most of the remaining programme. There would be no abnormal indivisible loads or non-standard deliveries. Light vehicle movements tend to be higher at the start and end of the day, when site workers arrive/leave.

An assessment will be carried out to understand the likely impacts of construction traffic on the local road network and identify which routes would be used to keep impacts for local users to a minimum.

Why this location?

The City of Doncaster and Wakefield Councils have declared climate emergencies.

Launched in September 2021, Doncaster Delivering Together was introduced as the new 10-year Borough strategy, with the aim to mark a significant change of gear in the collective effort to improve the wellbeing of everyone in the borough - and to leave a better place for future generations. 

Find out more about Doncaster Delivering Together 

In September 2020, Wakefield Council introduced a Climate Change Action Plan and pledged to become a carbon neutral council by 2030. This means having a net zero carbon footprint, and helping the entire district achieve this goal too by 2038. 

Find out more about the Wakefield Climate Change Action Plan 

Colliery Junction Solar Park will help support local targets to tackle climate change over the next decade. 

The site has been identified following an extensive site selection process which took into account environmental and land use designations, grid availability, proximity to the local distribution network and the physical characteristics of the site.

This website explains the proposed development in more detail, as Infinis prepares to submit our planning application. 

If you have any questions after browsing the site, please contact us.

The City of Doncaster and Wakefield Councils have declared climate emergencies.  Colliery Junction Solar Park will help achieve their targets to tackle climate change over the next decade. 

Solar power is quiet and causes zero emissions, which makes it a good neighbour to local communities. 

Biodiversity Net Gain - The loss of biodiversity (the number, variety, and range of species of plants and animals) is a critical problem throughout the UK and rest of the world. Climate change and land use changes are leading to rapid declines in the quality and types of habitats, and the strength of populations of species they support. Solar parks are typically very good at providing biodiversity benefits. High quality habitats can be introduced within and around solar arrays, replacing what has often been poor quality habitat that supports very little biodiversity. 

By introducing and maintaining high quality, locally appropriate grasslands, trees and hedgerows, solar park developments can enhance biodiversity. This benefit will be managed and cared for throughout the whole life of the solar scheme, while providing extra renewable energy and recuing climate change impacts. 

In February 2024, the UK Government introduced new legislation that requires all developments to deliver at least 10% increase in the biodiversity in and around a development. This is typically achieved by designing habitats and features into a development that support and encourage wildlife. 
 

Colliery Junction Solar Park will generate enough electricity to power approximately 8,700 homes each year¹ and displace more than 3,900 tons of CO2 emissions compared to the current electricity generation mix².

1. Number of households powered is based on the average household electricity usage within the Doncaster and Wakefield area in 2022 (Regional and local authority electricity consumption statistics - GOV.UK ([http://www.gov.uk])
2. Calculated based on National Grid data on carbon intensity of our power generation mix between March 2023 and February 2024.