Leeds solar park breaks ground for green energy

Construction is underway on a large-scale solar energy project in West Yorkshire, set to provide significant renewable power and environmental benefits.

OnPath Energy has begun developing the Barnsdale Solar Energy Park, located east of Leeds, which will generate enough electricity to power up to 13,000 homes annually.

Spanning 50 hectares, the site will connect to the Ledston Primary sub-station and include a biodiversity strategy featuring wildflower meadows, wetland habitats, and native planting to achieve a 106 per cent biodiversity net gain, the biggest increase in biodiversity for any renewable energy project within Leeds to date.

Will Rust, development planner at OnPath Energy, said: “This is a significant landmark in the development of a project that will deliver a wide range of environmental, ecological, energy security and social benefits to local communities and the wider region.

“The Barnsdale Solar Energy Park will also further extend the contribution OnPath Energy is making in Yorkshire towards meeting the UK’s crucial net-zero targets.

“Our four Yorkshire wind farms generated enough electricity in our last financial year to meet the annual electricity needs of more 33,400 homes, or a city around the size of Wakefield, and we’re very pleased to be moving quickly towards adding to this figure.”

Managed by Cheetham Hill Construction and specialist infrastructure consultancy AECOM, the project also includes a community fund of over £800,000 to support local groups, aligning with OnPath’s commitment to benefiting local communities.

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