Solar farm plans dropped after public consultation

Plans to develop a solar farm in St Martin have been dropped following a public consultation and discussions with the landowner.

Jersey Electricity confirmed it will not proceed with proposals for a solar installation at Belle Fontaine after residents raised objections and talks were held with the Crown, which owns the site.

The scheme would have seen a 5.2-megawatt solar farm built across around 20 acres of land, using an agrivoltaic approach designed to allow farming activity to continue alongside energy generation. However, people living nearby voiced concerns about the impact on the area’s rural character and local wildlife.

In a statement, Jersey Electricity said it had taken the feedback into account and decided to shelve the project. The company added it would continue to assess other potential locations as part of its wider efforts to expand renewable energy on the island.

Despite the setback, the utility said it remained committed to the transition to cleaner energy and to identifying sites where solar power could operate in harmony with agricultural use.

The company also said it would continue to engage with the public at an early stage on any future proposals for ground-mounted solar developments.

A spokesperson said ground-based solar installations remained a cost-effective way to diversify Jersey’s power supply, improve energy resilience and help meet environmental goals.