It was great to visit the newly operational solar farm last week, with members of the Thrive team hosting local councillors from Great Dunmow Town Council and Essex County Council. As well as taking them on a tour of the site, we were able to share more insight into how solar farms like Dunmow are helping deliver a cleaner, fairer future and contributing to the UK’s wider net zero goals.  

Also visiting the site were members of Uttlesford Community Energy and Community Energy Pathways, who are helping us to shape how community ownership could work on the project. Thrive has pledged to offer the local community an opportunity to invest in a 10% stake.  

Dunmow can generate up to 14,500 MWh of clean electricity per year, the equivalent of powering around 4,400 average UK homes [2], and delivering emissions reductions of 6,337 tCO2e [3].  

The project has a biodiversity management plan in place to support nature on site, with measures such as wildflower grassland creation and hedgerow enhancement expected to result in a significant ‘biodiversity net gain’. As these habitats begin to establish, we look forward to seeing more wildlife attracted to the site. Thrive is also working with a biodiversity consultancy to plan additional voluntary measures to further enhance our commitments. 

The site was acquired from the original developer, PS Renewables, in May and is the third project to be funded by Fair Play Clean Energy Ltd, our joint venture with TopCashback Sustainability, which brings together a combined £80 million in capital to fund new clean energy projects in the UK.