- 1Cleve Hill Solar Park (Kent) is the UK’s largest operational solar farm at around 373 MW – fully operational since July 2025, with a co-located 150 MW battery being completed in early 2026. It was the first UK solar project consented as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP).
- 2The pipeline dwarfs the operational fleet. Sunnica (~500 MW), Gate Burton (~500 MW) and Cottam/West Burton (480 MW each) have already been approved. Botley West in Oxfordshire (~840 MW) is in planning and would become the UK’s largest solar farm if consented.
- 3Most large UK solar farms cluster in the South West, South East, East Anglia and East Midlands – flat land, decent irradiance and grid capacity. New farms increasingly include co-located battery storage and use single-axis tracking and bifacial panels.
- 4UK utility-scale solar is now subsidy-free and commercially viable, with a levelised cost of ~£30-50/MWh that undercuts wholesale prices. The 50 MW NSIP threshold (England) routes the largest projects to the Secretary of State rather than local councils.
The UK’s solar industry has grown dramatically since the first large-scale solar farms were built in the early 2010s. What started as modest installations of a few megawatts has evolved into an industry delivering projects measured in hundreds of megawatts – with several gigawatt-scale developments now in planning.
Despite the UK’s reputation for cloudy weather, utility-scale solar has proven economically viable, particularly in the sunnier southern regions. Large solar farms now contribute significantly to the UK’s renewable energy mix, generating clean electricity for hundreds of thousands of homes.
This guide profiles the biggest operational solar farms in the UK, examines what makes them significant, and looks at the massive projects set to transform the landscape in coming years.
UK Solar Farms at a Glance
| Total UK solar capacity | ~15-16 GW (all installations) |
| Utility-scale share | ~50% of total capacity |
| Number of solar farms | ~1,000+ (over 1 MW) |
| Largest operational | ~350 MW |
| Largest in planning | ~2,000 MW+ |
| Main regions | South West, South East, East Anglia |
For context on what these MW and GW numbers actually translate to in real-world terms – panels, land, homes – see our explainer on how many solar panels make a gigawatt.
The Biggest Operational Solar Farms
1. Shotwick Solar Park, Flintshire
| Capacity | 72.2 MW |
| Location | Deeside, Flintshire, Wales |
| Commissioned | 2016 |
| Developer | Lightsource BP |
| Panels | ~250,000 |
| Land area | ~250 acres |
| Homes powered | ~15,000 |
| Notable | Built on former steelworks; one of first mega-scale UK farms |
| Project page | British Solar Renewables case study |
Shotwick is a good example of a wider trend: building large solar on former industrial land rather than productive farmland. For more on this approach, see our guide to solar panels on brownfield sites.
2. Bradenstoke Solar Farm, Wiltshire
| Capacity | 69.8 MW |
| Location | Near Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire |
| Commissioned | 2015 |
| Developer | British Solar Renewables |
| Panels | ~250,000 |
| Land area | ~540 acres (across multiple sites) |
| Homes powered | ~14,000 |
| Notable | One of UK’s largest when built |
| Project page | British Solar Renewables case study |
3. Owl’s Hatch Solar Farm, Kent
| Capacity | 69.3 MW |
| Location | Hoo Peninsula, Kent |
| Commissioned | 2015 |
| Developer | Conergy/SunEdison |
| Panels | ~260,000 |
| Land area | ~350 acres |
| Homes powered | ~14,000 |
| Notable | In London’s green belt |
| Coverage | Kent Online: approval for huge Herne solar farm |
4. Eveley Solar Farm, Hampshire
| Capacity | 64 MW |
| Location | Near Southampton, Hampshire |
| Commissioned | 2015 |
| Developer | Hive Energy |
| Panels | ~230,000 |
| Land area | ~290 acres |
| Homes powered | ~13,000 |
| Coverage | Solar Power Portal: 48MW Eveley Farm given green light |
5. Wymeswold Airfield, Leicestershire
| Capacity | 34 MW |
| Location | Former WWII airfield, Leicestershire |
| Commissioned | 2013 |
| Developer | Lark Energy |
| Panels | ~130,000 |
| Land area | ~150 acres |
| Homes powered | ~8,000 |
| Notable | Was UK’s largest when commissioned; brownfield site |
| Coverage | Solar Power Portal: Lark Energy develops UK’s largest solar farm |
Top 10 Summary Table
| Rank | Name | Location | Capacity | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shotwick Solar Park | Flintshire | 72.2 MW | 2016 |
| 2 | Bradenstoke | Wiltshire | 69.8 MW | 2015 |
| 3 | Owl’s Hatch | Kent | 69.3 MW | 2015 |
| 4 | Eveley | Hampshire | 64 MW | 2015 |
| 5 | Landmead | Oxfordshire | 46 MW | 2014 |
| 6 | Southwick Estate | Hampshire | 48 MW | 2015 |
| 7 | Kencot Hill | Oxfordshire | 45 MW | 2014 |
| 8 | Manor Farm | Wiltshire | 44 MW | 2015 |
| 9 | West Raynham | Norfolk | 49.9 MW | 2015 |
| 10 | Wymeswold Airfield | Leicestershire | 34 MW | 2013 |
Recently Commissioned Large Projects
Cleve Hill Solar Park, Kent
| Capacity | ~350 MW (solar) + 150 MW (battery) |
| Location | Near Faversham, Kent |
| Status | Operational/completing 2024-2025 |
| Developer | Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners |
| Panels | ~880,000 |
| Land area | ~890 acres |
| Homes powered | ~90,000 |
| Notable | First UK solar NSIP; includes battery storage |
| Project website | clevehillsolar.com |
The full project history, examination documents and decision letter for Cleve Hill are all on the Planning Inspectorate’s Cleve Hill Solar Park project page – the official register entry for every UK Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. Cleve Hill reached commercial operation in summer 2025 with the co-located 150 MW battery still being completed.
Why Cleve Hill Is Significant
| Factor | Significance |
|---|---|
| First solar NSIP | First solar farm approved as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project |
| Scale | Largest solar farm in UK when complete |
| Battery integration | 150 MW battery for grid stability |
| Subsidy-free | Built without government subsidy |
| Precedent | Paved way for other large projects |
Mega-Projects in Development
Several enormous solar projects are in planning or development, dwarfing existing installations:
Sunnica Energy Farm, Cambridgeshire/Suffolk
| Proposed capacity | ~500 MW solar + 500 MW battery |
| Location | East Cambridgeshire/West Suffolk |
| Status | Approved 2024 |
| Developer | Sunnica Ltd (Tribus Energy) |
| Land area | ~2,800 acres |
| Homes powered | ~172,000 |
| Expected completion | 2026-2027 |
| Project website | sunnica.co.uk |
Botley West Solar Farm, Oxfordshire
| Proposed capacity | ~840 MW |
| Location | West Oxfordshire |
| Status | In planning |
| Developer | PVDP/Photovolt Development Partners |
| Land area | ~3,500 acres |
| Homes powered | ~330,000 |
| Notable | Would be largest solar farm in UK |
| Project website | botleywest.co.uk |
Gate Burton Energy Park, Lincolnshire
| Proposed capacity | ~500 MW solar + battery |
| Location | Near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire |
| Status | Approved 2024 |
| Developer | Low Carbon |
| Land area | ~2,000 acres |
| Homes powered | ~160,000 |
| Project website | gateburtonenergypark.co.uk |
Mallard Pass Solar Farm, Lincolnshire/Rutland
| Proposed capacity | ~350 MW |
| Location | Near Stamford, Lincolnshire/Rutland |
| Status | In planning/examination |
| Developer | Windel Energy |
| Land area | ~900 acres |
| Homes powered | ~92,000 |
| Project website | mallardpasssolar.co.uk |
Upcoming Projects Summary
| Project | Location | Capacity | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botley West | Oxfordshire | 840 MW | Planning |
| Sunnica | Cambridgeshire/Suffolk | 500 MW | Approved |
| Gate Burton | Lincolnshire | 500 MW | Approved |
| Cottam | Lincolnshire | 480 MW | Approved |
| West Burton | Lincolnshire | 480 MW | Approved |
| Mallard Pass | Lincolnshire/Rutland | 350 MW | Planning |
| Longfield | Essex | 500 MW | Approved |
What the Numbers Mean
Understanding Solar Farm Capacity
| Metric | Explanation |
|---|---|
| MW (Megawatt) | 1,000 kW; peak output capacity |
| GW (Gigawatt) | 1,000 MW |
| MWh (Megawatt-hour) | Energy generated over time |
| Capacity factor | ~10-12% in UK (actual vs theoretical output) |
Homes Powered Calculation
| Average UK home | ~2,700 kWh per year |
| 1 MW solar in UK | ~900-1,000 MWh per year |
| Homes per MW | ~330-370 homes |
| 100 MW farm | ~33,000-37,000 homes |
Land Requirements
| Land per MW | ~4-6 acres typical |
| 100 MW farm | ~400-600 acres |
| Efficiency improving | Higher efficiency panels = less land needed |
| Dual use | Sheep grazing often continues on solar farms |
For more on dual-use approaches that allow farming to continue on solar land, see our guides to solar panels for farms and agrivoltaic farming in the UK.
Where Solar Farms Are Located
Regional Distribution
| Region | Solar Capacity | Why |
|---|---|---|
| South West | Highest | Best irradiance; rural land available |
| South East | High | Good sun; proximity to demand |
| East Anglia | High | Flat land; good irradiance; grid capacity |
| East Midlands | Growing | Agricultural land; grid connections |
| Wales | Moderate | Some large projects |
| Scotland | Lower | Less irradiance; wind preferred |
| North | Lower | Less irradiance; fewer large projects |
Why Location Matters
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Solar irradiance | South receives ~30% more sun than Scotland |
| Grid connection | Must connect to transmission/distribution network |
| Land availability | Agricultural land often used |
| Planning | Local attitudes vary significantly |
| Land grade | Lower grade agricultural land preferred |
Where land pressure is acute, water-based and floating systems are starting to add a new option to the mix – see our guide to floating solar farms.
Technology and Design
Panel Technology
| Aspect | Typical Approach |
|---|---|
| Panel type | Monocrystalline silicon; increasingly bifacial |
| Panel wattage | 500-700W per panel (increasing) |
| Mounting | Fixed tilt or single-axis tracking |
| Inverters | Central or string inverters |
| Design life | 40+ years for modern farms |
Fixed vs Tracking
| Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed tilt | Lower cost; simpler; less maintenance | Lower yield |
| Single-axis tracking | 15-25% more generation | Higher cost; moving parts |
| UK trend | More tracking being deployed | – |
Battery Storage Integration
| Trend | Most new large farms include battery storage |
| Purpose | Store excess; provide grid services; smooth output |
| Typical ratio | 30-50% of solar capacity |
| Revenue streams | Arbitrage; frequency response; capacity market |
Planning and Development
Planning Routes
| Route | Capacity | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Local planning | Under 50 MW | Local council |
| NSIP (England) | Over 50 MW | Secretary of State |
| DNS (Wales) | Over 10 MW | Welsh Ministers |
| Scotland | Over 50 MW | Scottish Ministers |
For a deeper dive into how the NSIP regime, the National Planning Policy Framework and clean power targets interact for solar, the House of Commons Library briefing on planning for solar farms is the best concise source – it covers consenting routes, agricultural land protections and the Clean Power 2030 target of 45-57 GW.
NSIP Process
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Pre-application | 12-24 months |
| Acceptance | 28 days |
| Pre-examination | ~3 months |
| Examination | 6 months |
| Decision | 3 months |
| Total | 2-4 years typical |
Common Planning Considerations
| Issue | How Addressed |
|---|---|
| Agricultural land | Prefer lower grade; allow grazing |
| Visual impact | Screening; setbacks; landscaping |
| Biodiversity | Habitat creation; wildlife corridors |
| Heritage | Archaeological surveys; mitigation |
| Local opposition | Community benefit funds; engagement |
| Grid connection | Significant cost and complexity |
Environmental Considerations
Land Use Debate
| Argument | Counter-Argument |
|---|---|
| Uses agricultural land | Sheep can graze; land rested; improves soil |
| Food security concerns | Solar on ~0.1% of UK land; grain surplus |
| Visual impact | Time-limited; reversible; screened |
| Industrial in countryside | Less impactful than other energy |
The wider government framework for balancing solar deployment against agricultural land protection is set out in the UK Solar Roadmap, which targets 45-47 GW of solar by 2030 while maintaining planning protections for the best agricultural land.
Biodiversity Benefits
| Benefit | How Achieved |
|---|---|
| Wildflower meadows | Seeding between panel rows |
| Pollinator habitat | Reduced mowing; native planting |
| Bird habitat | Hedgerow planting; nesting sites |
| Reduced chemicals | No pesticides/fertilizers on solar land |
| Soil recovery | Rest from intensive agriculture |
For more on these biodiversity outcomes, see our guides to solar farms and wildlife and pollinator-friendly solar farms.
Carbon Payback
| Manufacturing carbon | ~20-50g CO2/kWh (lifecycle) |
| Grid average | ~200-250g CO2/kWh |
| Carbon payback | ~1-3 years |
| Lifetime benefit | ~90% less carbon than gas generation |
Economics of Large Solar
Current Economics
| Capital cost | ~£400,000-600,000 per MW |
| Levelised cost (LCOE) | ~£30-50 per MWh |
| Wholesale electricity | ~£50-100 per MWh (variable) |
| Subsidy | None needed for new projects |
| Return period | ~8-15 years |
For more on cost benchmarks at the commercial scale below NSIP thresholds, see our commercial solar panel costs guide.
Revenue Streams
| Revenue Source | Details |
|---|---|
| Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) | Fixed price contract with buyer |
| Merchant sales | Sell at wholesale market prices |
| CfD contracts | Government-backed contracts (some projects) |
| Battery revenue | Grid services; arbitrage; capacity |
| REGOs | Renewable energy certificates |
UK Solar Farm Records
| Record | Holder | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Largest operational | Cleve Hill | ~350 MW |
| Largest approved | Sunnica | ~500 MW |
| Largest proposed | Botley West | ~840 MW |
| First solar NSIP | Cleve Hill | Approved 2020 |
| First UK solar farm | Various small | ~2010-2011 |
| Largest when built | Wymeswold (2013) | 34 MW at the time |
Future of UK Solar Farms
Pipeline
| Projects in planning | Several GW in pipeline |
| Average size increasing | New projects 200+ MW typical |
| Cumulative approved | ~5+ GW in planning pipeline |
| Build rate | ~1-2 GW per year potential |
Trends
| Trend | Implication |
|---|---|
| Larger projects | Economy of scale; lower costs |
| Battery co-location | Standard for new farms |
| Higher efficiency panels | More power per acre |
| Tracking systems | More generation; higher yields |
| Agrivoltaics | Combining solar with agriculture |
| Subsidy-free | Economically viable without support |
Challenges
| Challenge | Impact |
|---|---|
| Grid connection | Long waits; high costs; constraining development |
| Planning opposition | Local resistance to large farms |
| Land competition | Food security arguments |
| Supply chain | Panel availability; shipping costs |
Summary
| Aspect | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Largest operational | Cleve Hill, Kent (~350 MW) |
| Largest approved | Sunnica (~500 MW) |
| Largest proposed | Botley West (~840 MW) |
| Main regions | South West, South East, East Anglia, East Midlands |
| Trend | Rapidly increasing size; battery integration |
| Pipeline | Several GW in planning |
| Economics | Subsidy-free; commercially viable |
The UK’s solar farm sector has transformed from a niche industry dependent on subsidies to a mature, commercially competitive power source delivering some of the cheapest electricity available. Projects have grown from tens of megawatts to hundreds, with gigawatt-scale developments now being seriously planned.
The largest operational solar farms in the UK – Cleve Hill, Shotwick, and others – demonstrate that utility-scale solar works even in Britain’s climate. These installations power hundreds of thousands of homes and continue generating for decades with minimal environmental impact.
Looking ahead, projects like Sunnica and Botley West will dwarf current installations. Combined with battery storage, these mega-farms will provide not just clean electricity but grid stability services – helping balance supply and demand as the UK transitions to renewable energy.
While debates continue about land use and visual impact, the economics are clear: large-scale solar is now one of the cheapest ways to generate electricity in the UK. The pipeline of approved and planned projects suggests that the biggest solar farms operating today will not hold their records for long.
Following a specific project? Every UK solar NSIP has a public Planning Inspectorate page with the full document trail – application, examination evidence, decision letter and post-consent submissions. Search the National Infrastructure Consenting register by project name to track Sunnica, Botley West, Mallard Pass, Gate Burton, Cottam and West Burton through their consenting stages.
For most homeowners and small businesses, these mega-projects matter mainly because they bring down the wholesale price of electricity that everyone pays – and because they shift the political conversation about where solar belongs. If you’re considering rooftop solar instead, the economics work very differently from utility-scale, but the same downward cost pressure applies.
