en.Wedoany.com Reported - Exagen Group has obtained planning permission to build a 15 MW solar photovoltaic power plant at Buttercombe in North Devon, England. The developer, part of Octopus Energy Generation's UK renewable energy and storage business, submitted its application a year ago, and the approval was granted based on planning officers' recommendations.

The plant, covering 108 acres, is planned to connect to an existing 33 kV overhead power line. Once operational, its average annual electricity generation is expected to be equivalent to the consumption of approximately 6,200 UK households. Buttercombe is the fourth project to receive planning permission for Exagen this year, following other solar-plus-storage projects such as the Old Wood Energy Park in Nottinghamshire.

The implementation of this project will add a utility-scale solar plant to North Devon's generation mix, thereby increasing renewable energy output in the region. By connecting to the existing 33 kV overhead network, the project helps deliver local electricity to the wider regional grid without relying on new long-distance transmission infrastructure. The project's expected average annual generation, equivalent to the electricity consumption of about 6,200 UK households, will enhance the year-round supply of renewable electricity in Devon. Additionally, by providing predictable, non-fuel-based generation, it can complement other local renewable sources, reducing reliance on fossil fuel generation during sunny periods and thereby improving Devon's energy resilience. This project also supports the county's decarbonization goals by displacing grid electricity from high-emission sources. Furthermore, it strengthens the pipeline of approved solar-plus-storage projects in the UK market, potentially accelerating the deployment of more projects in Devon and surrounding areas. By supplying power close to the point of consumption, the plant helps alleviate grid demand pressure during sunny hours and may improve local power balance. The completion of this plant also contributes to national clean energy deployment targets, ultimately influencing the availability of renewable energy to meet Devon's electricity demand.

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