Renewable energy project developer TGC Renewables has applied for planning permission for a 13MW solar project in Cambridgeshire. If approved, the initiative would generate enough electricity to power 3,356 homes, the company claims.

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The application coincides with the release of statistics from lenders and industry bodies which suggest record numbers of farmers in the UK are looking into generating renewable energy as diversification of their businesses.

TGC Renewables said that, "With large scale solar well supported under the renewable obligation certificate (ROC) mechanism, developers are now enhancing and up-scaling their projects to make more efficient use of available gird connections. This in turn enables farmers and landowners to maximize the available rental income for ground mounted PV developments and generate above average returns for what’s traditionally been recognised as low-grade agricultural land."

The farm in Cambridgeshire will rent out land for the solar project for a period of 25 years. The 55,000 PV panels will be installed over adjacent fields on a site comprising 58 hectares South West of Cambridge.

TGC said that the site selection process factored in the effect the project would have on the landscape and "natural screening" would minimize the impact.

Company director Rob Denman said, "With the large scale solar market still attractive to investors and land owners, the challenge that developers are now rising to is to make the most efficient use of available grid connections.

"Having developed significant in-house expertise, we can take our projects through the entire development cycle from feasibility through to grid connection. We now have over 50 MWs in planning and aim to increase this to over 100 MWs over the next 12 months."