A NEW solar farm which could supply electricity to almost half of all homes in a North Tyne village is being planned.
Humshaugh Net Zero CIC is working on a scheme to generate low-carbon electricity in the parish using solar energy.
The group hopes to install 1 MW of PV panels near Lincoln Hill, which would be capable of supplying the average electricity needs for more than 150 households, after the landowner agreed to lease the land.
Last month, more than 30 residents attended a public meeting to hear about the group's plans.
Electricity would be generated by several rows of photovoltaic panels all pointing south at an angle of about 50 degrees. The panels would be supported on metal frames.
All the rows of panels would be connected by wires to a small building on one corner which would house meters and electrical safety equipment. The electricity would then be connected to the local electricity grid.
The site would be fenced.
David Still, the scheme's project manager, said more than 30 people attended the meeting and that they responded to the plans positively.
"We think it's a very positive scheme for the parish," he said. "It's on land which has low agricultural value so we're not depriving any crops or anything like that.
"We are sure that we have to take action to stop the harmful effects of carbon emissions. If we don't do it, then who else is going to do it?"
Mr Still said they will be submitting a planning application to Northumberland County Council in the next two weeks, and they expect a decision to be made early next year.
If approved, Mr Still said he expects the farm would be built in 2024.
"It may take up to a year to get the solar panels because there is a big demand for them at the moment but when we have the funding and the grid in place, it would probably only take up to three months to build," he said.
"If we can do it earlier, we will."
Hexham Net Zero, which was formed two years ago to promote the path to net-zero emissions in the parish by 2030 in line with the county council's aims, received £67,000 from the Rural Community Energy Fund earlier this year to develop the project.
The group says a separate company will be set up to own the scheme, which will be run and owned by local people, potentially with a loan from a bank or mutual society.
The capital cost is expected to be around £1million.
They plan to use the electricity generated by setting up a local electricity buying club. People who would want to join would have to have a smart meter.
When electricity is available from the scheme, users would be charged at one rate set to make a reasonable return for the investors in the scheme, the group said.
At other times, or if the demand is higher than the local generation, the electricity would be purchased from a nationwide renewable electricity generation company.
One of the hardest aspects of the scheme, the group said, is obtaining a connection to the electrical distribution network. They are currently talking to Northern Powergrid to find an economic solution.
Mr Still said: "For Northern Powergrid, we understand what they want to do is reduce the amount of electricity they have to bring in from the transmission grid so if they can do that, it means they can be much more effective in their upgrades of their system and security of supply.
"We think we can help them by reducing the amount of electricity that has to come into the village."
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