Ash SolarFarm
About this Project
Ash Solar Farm is a two-phase project at Ash Farm in the eastern Mendip Hills, combining solar photovoltaic generation with battery energy storage to provide both clean power and grid flexibility to the South West network.
Phase 1 delivers 5 MWp of solar paired with a 10 MW / 2-hour battery storage system, while Phase 2 adds a further 9 MWp of solar-only capacity. The project connects to a 33kV line near Kilmersdon on a site specifically identified for its available grid capacity. With a planned operational life of 40 years and a dual-use agricultural model that maintains sheep grazing throughout, Ash Solar Farm reflects Empower Projects’ commitment to responsible, landscape-sensitive development in areas of rural character.
Planning Status and Milestones
Planning Approved
Programme of Works under discussion with the DNO for the solar component’s April 2026 connection. Grid offers have been accepted. Land options are signed. Connection securities are not applicable.
Submitted & Initiated
Submission anticipated for Q1 2026. Grid offers have been accepted. Land already under option. Connection securities are not applicable.
Connection Details
Both phases connect to a 33kV overhead line on Charlton Road near Kilmersdon, within National Grid Electricity Distribution’s South West licence area. Phase 1 includes a 10 MW BESS connection at the Ash BESS connection point, with 10.2 MVA export and 10 MVA import. The BESS component provides dispatchable flexibility to the local 33kV network. The connection was selected based on available grid headroom at this specific distribution circuit.
Site and Surrounding Area
Located in the eastern Mendip Hills, the site sits within a historically significant landscape shaped by the Somerset Coalfield. Radstock lies approximately 3 miles to the east, with Midsomer Norton 4 miles north, Frome 6 miles east, and Bath approximately 10 miles north. The 6.41-hectare site comprises three fields with mixed pastoral use and occupies the transition between lowland Somerset and the elevated Mendip plateau. The area retains significant agricultural character and rural amenity, and the project has been designed to maintain continuous livestock grazing under and around the panel arrays.
Current Status
Planning
Approved (Ph.1) /
Submitted (Ph.2)
Land
Option Signed
(Ph.1 & Ph.2)
Grid Offer
Accepted
(Both Phases)
Development Phases
| Phase | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar (MWp) | 5 MWp | 9 MWp | |
| BESS (MW/Hr) | 10 MW / 2 Hr | - | |
| Wind (MW) | - | - | |
| Grid AC | 10 MVA | - | |
| Connection | BESS 2037 / Solar April 2026 | April 2026 |