49.9 megawatts of sunshine, and the sheep keep grazing: Scotland gives a solar farm the green light

Near Arbirlot in Angus, about 5 kilometres west of Arbroath, councillors have approved the Bonnyknox Solar Farm — 49.9 megawatts of clean power with a deliberately local shape. The land does double duty: sheep will keep grazing between the panels, landscaping is designed to feed pollinators, birds and mammals, and nearby homes could get yearly discounts on their electricity bills through a local discount scheme shaped with residents. A community benefit package, upgrades to the local private water supply and road improvements come with it, and building the farm should take about 12 months. 'We're delighted that councillors have recognised what Bonnyknox Solar Farm can offer Angus,' said Claire Chamberlain of developer RES. It is home-grown power designed to leave the place better than it found it.

SDG 7 · Affordable and clean energy — Mechanism: policy reform