UK renewable energy developer Low Carbon has announced the early-stage development of the West Oxfordshire Energy Park, a proposed 500 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project with an associated battery energy storage system (BESS) and supporting electrical infrastructure.
The proposed project is located in West Oxfordshire, on land north-west of Lechlade and south-west of Carterton, near the villages of Langford and Little Faringdon.
Once developed, the project is expected to generate enough clean electricity annually to power the equivalent of approximately 145,000 UK homes. This would be sufficient to meet the electricity needs of the entire West Oxfordshire district, according to Low Carbon.
The project could also avoid up to 154,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.
Solar, Battery Storage and Environmental Enhancements
In addition to solar PV panels and battery energy storage, the proposed development will include associated electrical infrastructure and areas dedicated to environmental mitigation and enhancement.
Low Carbon said the project is being developed using an environment-led design approach. Environmental surveys, technical assessments and feedback from local communities and other stakeholders will be used to inform and refine the project design.
The company has begun engaging with local parish councils and other stakeholders while the project remains in its early development phase.
A public consultation is planned for early 2027, providing local communities and other interested parties with an opportunity to review the proposals and submit feedback.
Ed Perrin, Development Director at Low Carbon, said the proposed project could contribute to the UK’s supply of clean, domestically generated renewable electricity and support government targets for solar deployment.
Project to Follow NSIP Development Process
With a proposed generating capacity exceeding 100 MW, the West Oxfordshire Energy Park will be classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP).
The project will therefore require an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Planning Inspectorate. The final consent will be determined by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Low Carbon has previously developed projects through the NSIP and DCO planning process. In August 2026, the UK government granted development consent for the company’s Beacon Fen Energy Park project.
The West Oxfordshire Energy Park remains at an early stage of development, with the project design expected to evolve following environmental assessments and stakeholder engagement ahead of the planned 2027 consultation.
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