Seaham Solar Park

Our proposal has the potential to provide enough clean, affordable energy to meet the power needs of over 22,000 homes while avoiding more than 19,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

We are in the early stages of the developing our proposals. We are committed to working closely with local residents and stakeholders as we develop our proposals to ensure that the project delivers clean, green, affordable energy as well as improving local ecosystems, economy and providing community benefits.

We are pleased to share our initial proposal and welcome any feedback over the coming months. Further information and a draft planning application will be made available during our pre-application consultation as we progress through the planning process.

In December 2024 we held two consultation events for residents to take part and find out more.

You can see a recording of the online consultation event here: https://seahamsolar.communityuk.site/watchit

Feel free to share your view about this project by completing the online form here.

Email: seahamsolar@yourshout.org

Phone: 0800 955 1042

About the project

About Seaham Solar Park

The site
Elements Green is developing a proposal for a solar farm, approximately 1.5 kilometres to the north of Seaham. There is a rich history of power generation through the famous coal mine in Seaham, this proposed Solar Park will see to continue that. Seaham Solar Park will contribute to the UK Government’s target to meet 95% of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2030. The total site area is approximately 80 hectares over 4 parcels of land on the edge of Seaham to the south of Ryhope. The larger parcel to the east is located between the railway and the B1285. The two smaller parcels to the west are located to the north of the A19 and the west of the A1018.

The Proposals
Seaham Solar Park would be an array of solar panels covering approximately 80ha. Our initial site layout plan shows the potential arrangement of solar panels across the site. Due to the scale of the proposed Seaham Solar Park, it will be submitted to Sunderland City Council and Durham County Council, due to it not being a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and because it falls within both Local Authorities. This applies to all energy generation projects below 50MW.

Connection to Grid
We are proposing to utilise existing distribution network infrastructure approximately 1km north of the intersection of the A19 and A1018. The location was chosen due to the optimal solar irradiance levels of coastal locations, longer daylight generation from its easterly position, its proximity to the connection point, the topography of the land, the significant level of existing natural screening and lack of agricultural operations on the Site. Underground cables would carry the energy from the panels through to the existing Northern Powergrid Distribution Network, which would distribute the energy to the wider area.

Need for Seaham Solar Park

View full layout

The Need for Seaham Solar Park

The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is working to accelerate the development of clean energy production and the UK Government has set an ambitious target to deliver 95% of its annual electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030.

Keir Starmer firms up clean energy commitment in ‘Plan for Change’ - edie

Renewable energy developments, such as the proposed Seaham Solar Park, are recognised as having an important role to meeting this target. The Government has created a Solar Taskforce to help increase the number of solar developments. Solar Taskforce - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Subject to being consented and becoming operational, Seaham Solar Park would have the capability of generating clean, affordable, home-grown electricity that would annually avoid around 19,000 tonnes of carbon emissions from entering our atmosphere.

It would also support UK energy security and contribute to tackling the cost-of-living crisis through the reduction of household energy bills. A key reason for choosing this particular site for a solar park is the availability of a grid connection and the optimal solar irradiance levels associated with easterly coastal locations.

Key benefits

Contributing to national and local climate targets by avoiding approximately 19,000 tonnes of CO₂

Helping reduce household bills and provide energy security with home-grown solar power

Increasing biodiversity and protecting wildlife with additional plantings and protected areas

A community benefit fund, that will support initiatives that directly benefit local communities

Honouring Seaham’s Energy Legacy

Seaham, located in County Durham, England, was historically served by several collieries, each comprising multiple pits. The primary collieries and their respective pits were:

Seaham Colliery: Established in 1849 by the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, this colliery featured three main shafts:

No. 1 and No. 2 Pits: These were part of a single large shaft divided by a brattice (partition) and functioned as the downcast shaft for ventilation.
No. 3 Pit: Situated approximately 150 yards west of the No. 1 and No. 2 shaft, this served as the upcast shaft.

Seaton Colliery: Initially developed by Lord Durham and the Hetton Coal Company, Seaton Colliery was later acquired by Lord Londonderry in 1864 and merged with Seaham Colliery.

Vane Tempest Colliery: Production commenced in 1928, and this colliery operated until its closure in 1992.

In the late 19th century, the colliery was producing between 2,500 and 2,800 tons of coal per day, which were shipped at Seaham Harbour and Sunderland Dock. At its height, in 1914, the colliery employed 2,574 people below ground and 520 above ground. The mine was nationalised in 1947 and in 1988 was merged with Vane Tempest colliery, and was closed by 1993.

Today, we honour that heritage by embracing a new chapter in Seaham’s energy story.

The development of solar farms will continue this long-standing tradition of energy generation.

Elements Green

Elements Green, the developer of the Seaham Solar Park, is a UK-based renewable energy developer with a 15-year track record of delivering renewable energy projects globally.

Elements Green has established a reputation for being at the forefront of technological and commercial evolution within the renewable energy sector and is committed to powering the world’s future energy needs.

Using our understanding of the renewables sector, we are delivering innovative and sustainable solutions for global energy security and the needs of a rapidly evolving world.

Further information about Elements Green is available here.

Seaham Solar Park

1 Half Moon Street

London

United Kingdom

W1J 7AY

seahamsolar@yourshout.org

08009551042