Welcome to the

Byde Mill Solar Farm Website

Project Introduction

Ampyr Solar Europe (ASE) is developing a proposal for a solar farm south west of Poulshot in Wiltshire. The proposal will cover approximately 23ha, including cable route and be located in fields west of Poulshot Road.

Who is the developer?

This project is being developed by Ampyr Solar Europe, a major new European solar enterprise. Ampyr Solar Europe was created in 2021 through the merger of NaGa Solar with the existing Ampyr Energy UK joint venture between AGP Group and Hartree Partners. Ampyr Solar Europe operates across Germany, UK and the Netherlands, with a 7+ GW (Gigawatt) solar portfolio in development.

We anticipate the solar farm to supply the electricity needs of approximately c.5,000 homes a year.

The clean energy generated will save on average approximately c.5000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, which adds up to over 180,000 tonnes of CO₂ over the next 40 years. Equivalent to saving over 200,000 acres of forest.

Biodiversity is particularly important to us and we are exploring opportunities for ecological enhancements and habitat creation.

Community consultation

Public consultation will run from the 19 September until 23:59 on the 19 October 2024. The consultation aims to understand the thoughts of the local communities regarding the project and to use community feedback to inform the project design and community benefits.

To provide feedback, please respond via email to BydeMillSolarFarm@axis.co.uk or in person at the drop-in-event at: Poulshot Village Hall, The Green, Poulshot Road, Poulshot, Devizes, SN10 1RT, on 1^st October 2024, from 3pm to 7pm.

Why do we need the solar farm?

Climate change is already resulting in an increase in global temperatures and weather patterns affecting societies and ecosystems in the UK and around the world.

To combat climate change, the UK has set the ambitious target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. To do this, the UK will shut all coal-fired power stations by 2025 and needs to transition to zero and low carbon sources of power. This means the amount of energy generated from renewable sources, such as solar, needs to increase. Byde Mill Solar Farm will play an important regional and national part in this transition to renewable energy generation.

Currently the UK’s electricity price is among the highest in Europe. The cause of this can be attributed to the lack of ‘home-grown’ energy and our susceptibility to outside influences on our energy prices. To combat this, the UK needs to find ways to increase its energy security, and renewable and clean energy generating power stations, such as solar and wind, play a vital part in achieving this goal.

Furthermore, National Grid expects the UK to double the amount of its energy usage by 2050, partly due to the growth in electric vehicle ownership and the proposed abolition of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035. To keep up with this increased demand while achieving our carbon targets, an increase in renewable energy generating stations is required across the UK.

Byde Mill Solar Farm is anticipated to power approximately c.5,000 homes, whilst reducing CO₂ emissions by approximately c.180,000 tonnes over its 40-year lifespan and is therefore a key part of the UK climate and energy security targets, as well as the Wiltshire County Council’s regional climate ambitions