Sandringham House, under King Charles’s ownership, has proposed the development of a solar and battery storage facility on the Estate. The application, submitted to the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, outlines plans for approximately 2,000 solar panels to be installed on land currently designated as horse grazing paddocks, with a total generation capacity of 2.1MW.
Located within the Sandringham Estate, the site is situated about 845m east of the village of Sandringham and around 920m northwest of Dersingham. The panels will be strategically positioned facing due south and angled for optimal sunlight exposure, with rows following the natural terrain at a height of approximately 3.06m above ground level.
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The solar system aims to provide power to the Estate’s main consumers, including the sawmill, visitor centre, and house. Upgrades and adjustments to existing infrastructure will be made as necessary to accommodate the project.
Solar energy and historic structures
Solar energy continues to be integrated into historical buildings throughout the UK as a means of reducing carbon emissions, albeit with specific challenges.
In March 2023, plans were unveiled to install solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof of York Minster, one of the world’s most renowned cathedrals. The project received approval from the City of York Council (CoYC) and the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England. York Minster, classified as a grade I-listed building and a registered English Heritage Site, aims to mount 199 panels on the roof of South Quire Aisle, an area dating back to 1361.
These panels will not only help fulfil daytime power needs but also enable surplus energy to be stored in underground batteries for use during the cathedral’s evening services and events.
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Similarly, in 2022, solar PV panels were installed on the roof of the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle by AES Solar. This initiative forms part of a broader effort to decrease energy consumption in historic structures. The 31.5kWp system is discreetly concealed behind a high parapet, ensuring that the panels remain unseen from the castle grounds and other viewpoints within the city.
