The UK’s largest solar farm is in Leicestershire on the site of a former Second World War airfield.

The solar farm near Loughborough has been developed by Lark Energy on land owned by Prestwold Estates. The project has been funded by Hazel Capital.

The solar farm is made up of 130,000 solar panels and cost £35m. It covers 150 acres of the former WWII Wymeswold Airfield. Despite being made up of so many panels it took only 8 weeks for them to be installed and it was finally connected to the grid at the end of March.

The land the solar farm has been built on is used for a variety of activities such as a driving experience operator – his course runs through the new solar farm. HGV training also takes place on the land along with a kite club and equestrian activities – however none of them will be affected by the solar farm.

Over the last couple of years Lark Energy has built 60MWp of solar power and the airfield project is capable of generating 34MWp.

Lark Energy managing director Jonathan Selwyn said “Lark Energy has been delighted to work with the Prestwold Estate and Hazel Capital in developing this unique project. As the largest solar farm in the UK, the project has not been without its challenges, both technical and weather related. It is a testament to the teamwork of the various parties involved in its development and delivery that it was completed and connected on time”.

So does this mean the East Midlands is one of the sunniest places in the country? Unfortunately not – solar panels don’t need direct sunshine in order to generate electricity. They can generate even on dull days it’s just that they generate more when it’s sunny.

Last year Utility Exchange reported that Australia had turned on its first commercial scale solar plant which is able to generate enough electricity for 3,000 homes. In contrast the solar farm on this Leicestershire airfield will generate enough for 7,500 homes.