Trevarthian Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
St Aubyn Estates has now submitted a planning application to Cornwall Council under the reference number PA25/04503.
The application is for the development of a solar farm and battery energy storage system (BESS) on land at Trevarthian Farm, located to the north-east of Marazion and north of the village of Goldsithney (TR17 0DU).
The solar farm will create enough clean, renewable energy to power approximately 4,345 homes per annum. The carbon offsetting of this solar farm is approximately 3,203 tonnes of CO2 per annum, which is the equivalent of taking 1,721 cars off the road each year.
The co-located battery storage facility will supply electricity to the electricity network at times of peak energy demand and help make the renewable energy output of the solar farm a secure and reliable part ofthe UK energy supply.
Trevarthian Solar Farm Improved Scheme
Following the public consultation event held on the 18th March 2025 and subsequent local resident feedback, fields 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 have all been removed from the scheme. The withdrawn fields have been removed for the following reasons:
To ensure that the whole scheme is sited within the natural depression. Primarily, field 4 has been removed to significantly reduce the landscape impacts of the scheme from the residential area of Plain-An-Gwarry. Limited views of the development will remain but those experienced will be obscured by existing and proposed landscape planting.
Concerns about development on agricultural land were frequently raised during the consultation process. Although the proposed development is temporary and the land can return to agricultural use after decommissioning, the scheme area has been reduced to ensure that no Grade 2 agricultural land is affected.
The removal of the chosen fields creates an increased buffer to the ‘Tregonning and Gwinear Mining Districts with Trewavas’, which is a designated area within the Cornish Mining World Heritage Landscape.
Furthermore, viewpoints of the site have been highlighted, and in these areas, additional landscaping measures have been discussed with those concerned to help mitigate the potential landscape impacts.
Original Scheme
Improved Scheme
Benefits of Trevarthian Solar Farm
The solar farm will assist Cornwall Council in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with national and local targets in response to the Climate Emergency.
The project will deliver net gains for biodiversity. Solar farm installations have a small footprint on the land they occupy, leaving considerable scope for biodiversity enhancements. As the solar panels are set up off the ground, almost the entire site will be available for biodiversity enhancements and sheep grazing. Research has shown that responsibly managed solar farms can play an important role in reducing the decline in biodiversity.
Existing trees and hedgerows will be retained and protected and supplemented by additional native species planting to support local habitats as part of a wider ecological network.
The proposal does not require the stopping or diversion of any public rights of way. This is a temporary development, allowing the land to rest for the period of operation up to 40 years. Decommissioning and full restoration of the site at the end of life of the development will be secured via planning condition.
The project does not require Government subsidies.
We are committed to using local suppliers and contractors during construction and long-term operation of the project, which will benefit the local economy, and provide jobs to people in the local area.
About Us
St Aubyn Estates has been part of the West Cornwall landscape for more than 650 years, Nowadays, it is a family-owned enterprise spanning a range of businesses which include land and property management, tourism and hospitality, building, and farming.
We aim to be a force for sustainable growth while preserving the beauty of the landscape in our care. As well as active conservation and land management, this means reducing carbon use and implementing sustainability practices across our estates. Trevarthian Solar Farm would help St Aubyn Estate take the next step in our sustainability journey, delivering low-cost, green energy for Cornwall.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Climate Emergency, the cost of living crisis and the energy crunch are all linked by how we generate, use and supply energy. We urgently need to generate energy from new, low cost, low carbon sources and solar is the lowest cost and quickest to deploy of all energy sources. It is currently one-ninth the cost of gas and less than one third of the cost of nuclear.
Solar power is already yielding tangible results. For instance, during the period from June to August in 2022, solar power frequently contributed up to 25% of the UK's daytime electricity (according to the National Grid ESO carbon app).
Even in winter, solar panel technology is still effective; at one point in February 2022, solar was providing more than 20% of the UK’s electricity (According to the National Grid).
Solar power is a core part of the Governments’ Net Zero target, and it intends to more than triple solar power capacity by 2030.
Achieving this objective requires the deployment of larger scale solar farms as well as on the rooftops of industrial and residential buildings.
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The solar farm is a temporary development and will not change the land classification. At the end of the projects lifecycle, it will be decommissioned and the land will return to its previous agricultural usage.
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Solar helps address climate change, which is the single biggest threat to UK food security. This is according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which says that climate change could reduce the UK’s stock of high-grade agricultural land by nearly three-quarters by 2050. Because solar farms generate near zero-carbon electricity, they help address climate change and are actually helping to improve the UK’s food security.
The UK Food Security Report (2021) found that “the biggest medium to long term risk to the UK’s domestic production comes from climate change and other environmental pressures like soil degradation, water quality and biodiversity”. Solar farms currently account for 0.08% of total land use in the UK (Solar Energy UK 2022). If the Government was to hit its solar targets, this would result in 0.3% of the UK land area being used by solar (Carbon Brief, 2022). This is the equivalent to around half of the space used by golf courses.
This temporary proposal (40 years) will allow the soil to rest and improve its quality. The biodiversity of the site will significantly improve as a result of this proposal. Conditions will be set should permission be granted that will guarantee the land will be returned to agricultural usage after 40 years.
The land will also not be removed from food production as the land will have a duel use. We will intend to graze sheep underneath the solar panels.
Currently 240,000 hectares of UK land is used for horses. 42% of land in the UK is BMV and 100,000 hectares of that BMV land as an average, is currently used for horses.
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For our solar farm projects we require a nearby grid connection, a well-screened site that is consistent with planning policy and a supportive landowner. Trevarthian Solar Farm offers all of these features.
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Solar panels have no moving parts and emit no sound. Inverters and transformers can emit very low- level sound, but these are sited away from houses and cannot be heard from more than a few metres away.
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There is no evidence that solar farms have a negative impact on wildlife. In fact, wildlife thrives within the sites when managed sensitively. We are committed to significant net biodiversity gain at Trevarthian Solar Farm through the creation of new habitats to support local wildlife. Existing hedgerows will be strengthened and new hedgerows will be planted to improve habitat connectivity across the site. We will set aside a significant proportion of the land for habitats to support mammals, birds and invertebrates.
Further ecological enhancement measures such as bird boxes and bat boxes will be placed within the site to encourage those populations to prosper.
The application is accompanied by an Agricultural Land Classification Report, Ecological Assessment and a Landscape and
Ecological Management Plan which will ensure that the Proposed Development delivers significant Biodiversity Net Gain to the area. Wildlife and the environment will be better off because of the Proposed Development.
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Battery energy storage sites are not usually audible above ambient noise- levels. A full noise assessment will be conducted for the site and the project design will include mitigation, if necessary.
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The battery enclosures are specifically engineered to guarantee secure operation throughout the project’s lifespan. Advanced safety measures, including continuous monitoring of individual battery cells, are in place to promptly address any potential concerns and manage operations for utmost safety.
Battery energy storage systems are designed to adhere to stringent safety standards established by international regulatory bodies like the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
These comprehensive standards encompass various facets of battery storage systems, including installation, operation, and maintenance, to ensure their compliance with the highest safety protocols.
A public consultation event was held on Tuesday 18th March at St Piran's Hall, Goldsithney, Penzance, TR20 9LF. Please see below for the information boards presented at the event.
Public Consultation Event
Contact Us
If you wish to contact us or require further information, please feel free to use the form (situated to the left) or by the following email:
feedback@alpacacommunications.com