Luke has backed plans for a new Tees Solar Farm in Redcar & Cleveland after a detailed discussion with EDF Renewables this evening (14 June 2022). He welcomed the proposals, making clear that he believes Teesside should be ambitious about new clean energy infrastructure and jobs.

The 49.9MW solar farm is intended to connect via underground cabling to the Teesworks site, where EDF and its hydrogen arm Hynamics are developing Tees Green Hydrogen – a project that would use locally generated renewable electricity to produce low-carbon hydrogen for industry.

If elected at the general election, Labour plans to make Britain a clean energy superpower and to back hydrogen through a new national wealth fund. The Tees Green Hydrogen project would need government support to progress to its first phase (7.5MW capacity, drawing on Teesside Offshore Wind Farm), and the solar farm forming part of the following phases to deliver up to 300MW.

The EDF project will go through the planning process at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council this summer. Officers at the council have expressed concerns about the visual impact on the nearby conservation areas in Kirkleatham and Yearby. While acknowledging concerns, Labour borough and parish councillors support well-designed renewable projects like this to secure jobs, investment and energy security.