Solar arrays were installed at the farm at the end of 2015 to reduce the farm’s carbon footprint, reduce running costs and generate surplus energy for the National Grid.
All south-facing roofs of the farm buildings now feature solar arrays generating 54kW per annum. The grain dryer located in the modern agricultural building now operates using solar energy saving considerable cost and carbon during the busy harvest period.
The site
Seaham Grange Farm & West Cherry Knowle Farm, located opposite, are developing a proposal for a solar farm, approximately 1.5 kilometres to the north of Seaham with their solar developer, Elements Green. There is a rich history of power generation through the famous coal mine in Seaham, this proposed Solar Park will see to continue that. Seaham Solar Park will contribute to the UK Government’s target to meet 95% of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2030. The total site area is approximately 80 hectares over 4 parcels of land on the edge of Seaham to the south of Ryhope. The larger parcel to the east is located between the railway and the B1285. The two smaller parcels to the west are located to the north of the A19 and the west of the A1018.
The Proposal
Seaham Solar Park would be an array of solar panels covering approximately 80ha. Our initial site layout plan shows the potential arrangement of solar panels across the site. Due to the scale of the proposed Seaham Solar Park, it will be submitted to Sunderland City Council and Durham County Council, due to it not being a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and because it falls within both Local Authorities. This applies to all energy generation projects below 50MW. Seaham Solar Park will generate up to 49 MW of DC for the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO), Northern Powergrid. Our proposal has the potential to provide enough clean, affordable energy to meet the power needs of c. 11,000 homes while avoiding c. 19,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.
Connection to Grid
We are proposing to utilise existing distribution network infrastructure approximately 1km north of the intersection of the A19 and A1018. The location was chosen due to the optimal solar irradiance levels of coastal locations, longer daylight generation from its easterly position, its proximity to the connection point, the topography of the land, the significant level of existing natural screening and lack of agricultural operations on the Site. Underground cables would carry the energy from the panels through to the existing Northern Powergrid Distribution Network, which would distribute the energy to the wider area.
For more details, visit our dedicated website: www.seahamsolar.com
Eastern Green Link 1
EGL1, or Eastern Green Link 1, is a planned high-voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea electricity cable connecting Torness in Scotland with Hawthorn Pit in County Durham, England. It is a major £2.5 billion joint venture between National Grid Electricity Transmission and SP Energy Networks. The cable will transport 2GW of renewable energy from North Sea wind farms to power around two million homes and increase the stability of the UK’s electricity grid.
The farm is at the centre of this project hosting the 4-hectare Main Works Compound for the build out of the 10km onshore route to Hawthorn Pit. The works on the EGL1 project began in early 2025 and will continue until the end of the decade as National Grid continue to decarbonise the grid network.
For more details, visit the project website: https://www.easterngreenlink1.co.uk/
