0
Skip to Content
Seaham Solar Park
About the Project
The need
Key benefits
Elements Green
Events
Share your View
Supplier Opportunities
Login Account
Home 2
Seaham Solar Park
About the Project
The need
Key benefits
Elements Green
Events
Share your View
Supplier Opportunities
Login Account
Home 2
About the Project
The need
Key benefits
Elements Green
Events
Share your View
Supplier Opportunities
Login Account
Home 2

Welcome

Welcome to our dedicated website for the development of Seaham Solar Park, a solar park located approximately 1.5 kilometres to the north of Seaham.

Our proposal has the potential to provide enough clean, affordable energy to meet the power needs of c. 11,000 homes.

Following two consultation events for residents held in December 2024, the application was submitted to Durham County Council and Sunderland City Council in February 2025. We are currently awaiting confirmation of a committee date when a decision on the application’s approval will be made.

We are committed to continue working closely with local residents and stakeholders where possible, to ensure the project delivers clean, green, affordable energy as well as improving local ecosystems, economy and providing community benefits.

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

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 0800 955 1042

About the project
FAQs

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 (2024)

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.​

FAQs

This page answers common questions about solar energy and about Seaham Solar PV Park specifically. It covers how modern solar parks work, what evidence states about environmental, technical and community considerations, and the economic benefits the project could bring locally. The answers are based on up-to-date research, planning policy and guidance, best practice and experience from solar projects globally.

January 2026

Seaham & Solar FAQs

  • Seaham Solar Park is a proposed ground mounted Solar Park that would generate low carbon electricity for the national grid. The site has been chosen for its available grid connection, and is suitable from an environmental perspective.

    The array of solar panels will sited over approximately 80ha and has the potential to provide enough clean, affordable energy to meet the power needs of c. 11,000 homes.

  • Modern solar panels are designed to absorb light, not reflect it - known as having low 'albedo'. The glass has anti reflective coatings and a textured surface so that only around 2% of sunlight is reflected, similar to calm water and often less than roof tiles or bare soil.

    For larger schemes, UK planning guidance expects a glint and glare assessment, which models the sun path and checks possible effects on homes, roads and aviation. If a risk is identified, the layout, panel angle or planting is adjusted so that glare is minimised.

    Fact Check:

    https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/08/rn/solar-pv-guide.pdf

    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/628f5a0f8fa8f5039a1bd630/Glint_and_Glare_Scheme_Assessment_Redacted.pdf

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects-technical-advice-page-for-scoping-solar-development

  • Modern solar panels for projects like Seaham are mainly glass, aluminium and silicon, with tiny amounts of other materials locked inside the cells and laminate. Breakages are expected to be rare. If a panel does break, it shatters into glass fragments and remains as solid material; it does not start “leaking” chemicals into the field.

    Damaged modules are treated as waste electrical equipment and removed from site for proper recycling or disposal in line with the UK’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment rules, so broken glass and small amounts of metal are not left on the land.

    Independent reviews from the Clean Energy Council and NREL find no evidence that today’s crystalline silicon panels pose a contamination risk to land, livestock or crops when properly installed and managed.

    Fact Check:

    https://solarenergyuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Briefing-Fact-Checker-1.pdf

    https://solarenergyuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Natural-Capital-Best-Practice-Guidance.pdf

  • Yes. When you manage them well, solar parks can create more space for nature than the land use they replace. Panels are raised, so most of the site remains as grassland and wildflower habitat. The land is usually taken out of intensive arable rotation for 30 to 40 years, which cuts ploughing, fertiliser and pesticide use.

    Guidance from Solar Energy UK and monitoring from UK sites show increases in plant diversity, pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and birds where projects use diverse seed mixes, new hedgerows and ponds.

    Government backed work on natural capital notes that solar farms can support soil health, water quality and flood attenuation at the same time as generating clean power.

    Fact Check:

    https://solarenergyuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Natural-Capital-Best-Practice-Guidance.pdf

    https://solarenergyuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Briefing-Fact-Checker-1.pdf

    https://cleanenergycouncil.org.au/getmedia/36cc7896-107a-455d-aebb-5d3296b788ab/Soil-and-water-contamination-from-renewable-energy.pdf

    https://docs.nrel.gov/docs/fy26osti/90740.pdf

  • Solar PV and agriculture can work together when schemes are planned properly. Most UK agricultural land is grassland used for grazing, while Solar Parks occupy well under 0.1 per cent of UK land (2024).

    To meet the government’s net zero target, the Climate Change Committee estimates that we will need 90GW of solar by 2050 (70GW by 2035), which would mean solar farms would, at most, account for approximately 0.6% of UK land – less than the amount currently occupied by golf courses

    Panels are raised and spaced so that light and rain still reach the ground, allowing grass and wildflowers to grow and sheep to graze between the rows.

    Taking fields out of intensive arable use for 30 to 40 years also cuts ploughing and agro chemical use, which helps soil recover for future farming.

    Fact Check:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/agricultural-land-use-in-the-united-kingdom/agicultural-land-use-in-united-kingdom-at-1-june-2025

    https://solarenergyuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Factheet-Solar-Farms-and-Agricultural-Land-2024.pdf

    https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538633/1/N538633JA.pdf

  • A well designed solar park keeps most of the ground as permeable, vegetated land. More than 90% of a typical solar site remains as grass or similar cover, which helps rain soak into the soil.

    Research from the PV SuCCESS and PV SMaRT projects shows that sites with good vegetation can reduce soil loss and improve water quality compared with intensive arable farming, and can manage heavy rain at least as well as farmed fields.

    UK flood risk assessments for large solar projects also show that with grass under the panels and sustainable drainage systems, runoff is kept at or below greenfield rates.

    Fact Check:

    https://pv-success.betterenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/PV-SuCCESS-FactSheet_Solar-and-Surface-Water-Quality-3.pdf

    https://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/OFR/2025/OFR2025-20.pdf

    https://nsip-documents.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/published-documents/EN010140-000977-7.5%20Flood%20Risk%20Assessment%20Part%201%20of%206%20%28Tracked%29.pdf

    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6809f0588c1316be7978e7cb/draft-nps-en-3.pdf

  • New UK Solar Parks no longer receive the old style feed in tariffs or Renewable Obligation subsidies. Most projects are funded by private investment and by selling power into the market or through power purchase agreements.

    Some choose to enter Contracts for Difference(CfD), which stabilise prices and can pay money back to consumers when wholesale prices are high.

    Analysis for government and independent think tanks shows that solar is now one of the cheapest sources of new electricity and that more renewables have already helped cut wholesale prices, which feeds through over time into lower bills than would otherwise be the case.

    Fact Check:

    https://solarenergyuk.org/news/solar-industry-welcomes-legacy-subsidy-reform/

    https://www.cfdallocationround.uk/about

    https://solarenergyuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Solar-Energy-UK-Economic-Impact-of-Solar-and-Battery-Storage.pdf

    https://eciu.net/analysis/briefings/uk-energy-policies-and-prices/renewable-energy-in-the-uk

    https://eciu.net/media/press-releases/2025/analysis-growth-in-british-renewables-cutting-electricity-prices-by-up-to-a-quarter

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/solar-roadmap/solar-roadmap-united-kingdom-powered-by-solar-accessible-webpage

  • Yes. Most of what is in a modern crystalline silicon panel can be recovered. A peer reviewed 2024 study on end of life solar waste in Europe and the US found that more than 80% of a typical panel’s weight is glass and aluminium and that more than 95% of the total mass is technically recoverable with existing recycling technologies.

    Industry and EU briefings report that the best specialist plants can reach recovery rates close to 99%. In Europe, solar panels sit under Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment rules, which require high recovery and recycling rates and have driven investment in dedicated PV recycling plants.

    Fact Check:

    https://solarenergyuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Briefing-Fact-Checker-1.pdf

    https://www.intersolar.de/news/recycling-of-photovoltaic-modules

    https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/waste-electric-and-electronic-equipment-weee_en

    https://cleanpower.org/wp-content/uploads/gateway/gateway/2022/08/SolarRecycling_24-1007.pdf

  • Solar panels still generate electricity on cloudy days. Modern PV technology captures diffuse light that passes through clouds, so output does fall but does not drop to zero.

    Industry data for the UK shows that on overcast days panels may produce around 10 to 25% of their maximum output, and under light cloud they can reach much higher levels.

    Countries with many cloudy days, such as Germany, are among the world leaders in solar power, which shows that solar works well in our climate.

    Fact Check:

    https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/how-does-solar-work

Seaham Economics FAQs

  • Yes. The Planning Statement confirms that approximately 35 jobs would be directly created during the construction phase, covering civil works, electrical installation, plant operation, fencing, security, traffic management and landscaping.

    Fact Check:

    Seaham Solar Park Planning Statement (2025)

  • Yes. The Planning Statement states that indirect employment opportunities would be created in accommodation, catering, haulage and equipment hire, delivering a multi‑million‑pound boost to the local economy over the construction period.

    Fact Check:

    Seaham Solar Park Planning Statement (2025)

  • Yes. Once operational, the solar park would sustain approximately 3–4 long‑term jobs related to monitoring, maintenance and site management, typically supported by regional teams with local call‑out support.

    Fact Check:

    Seaham Solar Park Planning Statement (2025)

  • Yes. The applicant commits to an annual voluntary community benefit payment for the lifetime of the project of £20,000, providing long-term financial support for initiatives that build climate resilience and address local priorities. The development will also provide business rates to the local council throughout it's 40 year operation period.

    Fact Check:

    Seaham Solar Park Planning Statement (2025)

  • Yes. The Planning Statement confirms that the project supports EG Academy, which delivers free CPD‑accredited education and training in solar and battery storage, promoting long-term skills and career development in the renewable energy sector.

    www.egAcademy.co.uk

    Fact Check:

    Seaham Solar Park Planning Statement (2025)

  • Yes. Local businesses are invited to register as preferred suppliers, maximising the proportion of project expenditure retained within the local economy during both construction and operation.

    Fact Check:

    Seaham Solar Park Partnership Opportunities

  • Yes. The Planning Statement confirms that the site comprises Grade 3b land and existing uses would not result in the loss of productive food‑producing agricultural land, ensuring no adverse economic displacement. The site will require ongoing maintenance such as hedge trimming and grass cutting which will be supplied by local contractors as per the company’s tendering process.

    Fact Check:

    Seaham Solar Park Planning Statement (2025)

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

[email protected]

08009551042

The Elements Green Modern Slavery Statement is available to view and download on the Elements Green website. Please click here to be redirected.
The 2025 statement will be issued after this year ends – the linked 2024 is treated as the latest version.