Consultations underway on major solar farm proposals between Lincoln and Sleaford

Consultations for a huge solar farm between Lincoln and Sleaford have begun which it's said could power almost half the homes in Lincolnshire.

The firm behind it EDF Renewables are hoping to submit a final application this year.

It's the latest in a series of applications across the region but has seen criticisms such as the loss of agricultural land.

We spoke to Matthew Boulton from the company about the plans:

He told us Lincolnshire is perfect for this kind of development:

Solar farms are a good way of displacing fossil fuels

"The fact that it's pretty flat helps".

"It's got very good existing grid infrastructure - it's got overhead lines with a lot of capacity so it makes it much quicker and more cost effective to build under and near that existing infrastructure."

"Net zero is not a timeline - not a deadline of 2050 it's a budget of CO2 that we can create and we need to generate less on a year by year basis."

"Solar farms are a good way of displacing fossil fuel and megawatt hours. "

If we're going to decarbonise in the UK solar has to be part of that

"We're very much in listening mode - we just want to hear what people think - if they like what they're seeing and clearly what they don't like."

"We won't be submitting until later in the year the final application - so we'll be listening and refining."

"Climate change is real and we need to do something about it."

"If we're going to decarbonise in the UK solar has to be part of that."

"It won't be the biggest part - they'll be more wind than solar but they complement each other the wind tends to be quieter when the sun is shining."

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