Energy secretary Ed Miliband has given the green light to two new solar farms in Lincolnshire.

The West Burton Solar Project application has been granted development consent.

The application is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) development.

Crossing the county border between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, the scheme is being developed by Island Green Power and could generate enough clean energy to power 144,000 homes.

The site comprises four electricity generating stations, each with anticipated capacity in excess of 50MW, comprising of ground mounted solar arrays, with associated development comprising energy storage, grid connection infrastructure and other infrastructure integral to the construction, operation and maintenance of the NSIPs.  

The Heckington Fen Solar Park application in Lincolnshire has also been granted development consent.

The proposed development will comprise the construction, operation and decommissioning of a solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generating facility exceeding 50 megawatt (MW) output capacity, together with associated energy storage.

The installed capacity of the solar generation is expected to be in the order of 500MW.  

The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by Ecotricity (Heck Fen Solar).

The site plans to generate enough affordable green electricity to power over 100,000 homes.