Jersey's first solar farm is set to be completed by the end of the year, according to Jersey Electricity (JE). The company is installing nearly 7,500 solar panels on an 11-acre site in St Clement, which has been leased for the project.
The £5m solar farm will generate enough electricity to power around 600 to 700 homes, with the energy distributed through the island’s grid network. JE's chief executive, Chris Ambler, acknowledged that the cost of locally generated solar power will be "a little higher" than importing energy from France, but he emphasised that solar farms are "part of the solution" to reducing overall energy costs.
Ambler also revealed plans for more solar developments on the island, aiming to lower costs and make local energy more competitive. The St Clement site, leased from former potato farmers, was described as "low-grade agricultural land" unsuitable for other uses.
Although there were some complaints about noise during construction, Ambler assured residents that once completed, the facility would be quiet and relatively unobtrusive while meeting a significant portion of the parish's energy needs.
Peter Hargreaves, a local resident who initially opposed the project, said he still had reservations, suggesting that wind power and solar panels on structures like car parks might offer better alternatives.
Meanwhile, farmer Jeremy Hughes expressed interest in using the solar farm for "solar shepherding"—grazing his 120 sheep under the panels. He noted that sheep and solar farms work well together, as the panels provide shade and shelter, while the sheep keep the grass trimmed, maintaining the panels' efficiency. Hughes hopes this new practice will boost the availability of local lamb in Jersey markets, adding, "Times are changing, and we have to adapt."