The Hidden Problem With Solar

In today's seemingly often madcap world, in the UK, the headlong sprint to renewable energy solutions continues to gather pace. Our region is currently being bombarded with such gigantic solar schemes that to many concerned inhabitants, it appears that the whole of South Yorkshire's countryside is under threat!

Why so fast?  Why are towns and villages being overrun at breakneck speed?  Is it so communities don't have sufficient time to learn all the implications that these huge, mega schemes appear as an unstoppable force?  I'm sure many people feel completely overwhelmed and powerless, particularly when our own government have their collective foot on the accelerator. Just don't even try to stop this juggernaut!

But just hold the phone a minute.  There does appear to be a fly in the ointment.  There is a very widespread problem with these solar schemes.  Something that won't be mentioned in the glossy brochures that push these schemes.  These all-singing, all-dancing PV solar solutions have major issues!

This industry has a huge problem with 'micro cracking' within solar panels, which I'm almost certain hasn't been brought to your attention!  

What are Micro Cracks and what are the full implications?

The silicon used in solar PV cells is very thin indeed, hence is susceptible to damage easily.  China-based renewables company Sinovoltaics* states, 'Micro cracks are nearly impossible to avoid and will eventually affect most solar panels.'

This micro cracking can occur during manufacture, transportation, or installation.  when considering that most of the panels destined for Conisbrough will likely come from China, a sea voyage of over 10,000 miles will pose significant damage potential, even before they are fitted.

Panels with these cracks can suffer power loss, but even more worrying is the chance of hotspots, when internal resistance of the damaged cells rises and also the temperature in the cell as current passes through.  The risk of fire can be significant.

If that wasn't bad enough, even typical environmental factors can also cause micro cracking, so should the panels reach the installed stage without issue, they will still begin to degrade, with the potential to not reach their expected productive lifespan.

Typical environment conditions that can cause micro cracking include:

• Thermal Cycling  (variation of temperature between night & day, and seasons).
• Humidity and Freezing
• Cyclic  (or dynamic)  pressure loads and wind loads
• Snow
• Hail

As reported by PV Magazine* on November 1st 2023, a study by Clean Energy Associates (CEA) showed a 'massive' increase in the occurrence of micro cracking in their survey.  Their findings tested across 148 sites, in 16 different countries, showed that 83% of tested sites had line cracks, 78% had a soldering anomaly and 76% had complex cracks.

So in summary, are we expected to seriously risk our food production capability to dangerous levels as more prime farmland is being taken by solar schemes, for this unreliable and clearly fragile energy source alternative?  Can anyone please make sense of this, as there is no logic in the policies being rammed down our throats currently?

Sources:

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2023/11/01/new-survey-shows-massive-increase-in-pv-module-microcracks/

https://sinovoltaics.com/learning-center/quality/micro-cracks-causes-and-impacts-on-solar-panels/

https://www.maysunsolar.com/blog-why-microcracks-are-killing-your-solar-panels/

Alarm Bells Should Be RINGING!

Many of us are guilty of heading off on our weekly trudge to the supermarket and very much take for granted that the vast majority of our shopping list is sat on the well stocked shelves, just waiting for us to make our selections and head back home with the minimum of fuss and aggravation.

Only this week, you've reached the fruit and veg aisle, and there's two women playing tug of war over the last remaining cauliflower, like a couple of Jack Russell's fighting over a squeaky toy!  For anyone that has been fortunate enough not to witness such an incident, you likely feel - well this can't happen in the UK in 2025, surely!

So what conditions or circumstances could bring about supermarket customers into open conflict, as they try to save their respective Sunday roast?  Anyone that takes an interest in current affairs, that doesn't allow main-stream-media to do their thinking for them, and doing their own appraisal of the current situation will be aware of a perfect storm that is the brutal reality facing our farming industry, throughout Britain today.

Make no mistake, anger is growing rapidly within farming, particularly with the Labour government policies appears willing to allow farming to wither on the vine, rather than come to the aid of this most vital industry currently in the very eye of the storm, with hundred's of farms facing extinction! 

London's streets have been thronged by 1000's of tractors, farmers and supporters during passionate protests in the last few months, but their pleas appear to have fallen on deaf ears.

Farmers generally have been struggling because of a multitude of factors over the last several years.  Rising costs, lower yields and huge inheritance tax bills will see many family farms go to the wall or simply sell up and leave the industry, yet our government continues to send billions of pounds to Ukraine, whilst our farming industry is on it's knees and in the emergency room, requiring defibrillation.

The Future Looks Bleak.

Some of the difficulties in farming mentioned earlier is further compounded by the governments plans for enormous solar developments, so large, that they will simply dwarf what has been seen so far.  Solar cities on an industrial scale maybe sounds like a good idea for some, until it becomes clear that prime farmland is often earmarked for these massive projects.

So let's take a look at the bigger picture for a moment.  Our food supply and it's origins can be crucial in maintaining enough capacity to sustain our needs.  So here are a few key facts that when added all together has the potential to bring some very serious pressures on our already depleted food supply:

• Further loss of 9% of farmland, on top of land already given over to solar industrial sites. *
• Inheritance tax demands vastly reduces profit for the majority of family owned farms. **
• Official figures show in 2023, Britain produced only 58% of the food consumed. ***
• Over 50% of farms and farmland sales in 2023 was sold to non-farmers! ****
• Big rises in imports of foreign food and meat, with lesser welfare and quality standards. *****

The loss of productive farmland on this increasing scale will have a profound effect on the availability and sustainability of British standard food supplies to shops.  The most alarming issue in our dwindling food supply industry is that this whole situation has been brought about by either policy, or blamed on external influences.  This willful destruction of our once cherished farming industry has been mirrored across all other western countries, whose governments no longer see any value in supporting farming or farmers.  What we eat in future is being dictated, with the demonization of real meat and the culling of large numbers of animals will see the complete, eventual, eradication of farm animals altogether!

Bleak looking future indeed.

Sources:

*        https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gpv0qx9wxo

**      https://www.gov.uk/government/news/what-are-the-changes-to-agricultural-property-relief

***     https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/food-statistics-pocketbook/food-statistics-in-your-pocket#global-and-uk-supply

****   https://rural.struttandparker.com/article/english-estates-farmland-market-review-winter-2023-24/

***** https://www.fwi.co.uk/news/imported-food-found-to-carry-higher-pesticide-residues

           https://bryantresearch.co.uk/insight-items/low-welfare-imports/

 South Yorkshire sees a massive expansion of solar developments!

Our region is set for radical change as huge swathes of our countryside is under threat from 'solar cities' and sees our local area of Conisbrough Parks amongst the planned sites.

The Yorkshire Post recently reported on what is planned for Yorkshire and Humberside, that now has 48 operational developments, with a further 54 applications having been submitted, and a further 240 awaiting construction!

This is a very worrying prospect as the government look to expand solar capacity from the current level of around 20GW to around the 60GW level by 2030, which will see mostly productive farmland providing a cheaper alternative to more desirable locations, such as warehouse rooftops or brownfield sites.

It appears that our region is particularly vulnerable to these monstrous and unwanted developments because gaining access to the National Grid is a major consideration and one of the simplest and readily available connections can be done using decommissioned coal-fired power station sites. 

Opposition to Solar devastation grows!

Former Don Valley MP Nick Fletcher has recently paid a visit to Conisbrough Parks, to add his voice of opposition to the horrific plans for a solar array that will cover 2 square miles of productive farmland.

Nick had taken a walk onto the castle's historic hunting grounds, known locally as Conisbrough Parks, to survey the area for himself.

"So, over there is Conisbrough Castle.

All these fields are going to be covered in solar panels!  Can you imagine that? This beautiful countryside covered in solar panels.

What is happening to this country?

You need to write to Ed Miliband and say no! We cannot let this happen, it's disgraceful!

We must stop this! Write to your MP's folks. Please write to your MP's!"

A very warm welcome to everyone!

It is with a heavy heart that I have to report that our green and pleasant land is under grave threat from a developer that is intent on covering up almost the entire historic hunting grounds of Conisbrough Castle.

Known locally as Conisbrough Parks, this ground has been farmed for generations.  Can you imagine it, this most precious of outdoor space for everyone to enjoy will become an ocean of black glass, as developer Green Nation is seeking to acquire the use of the land for a solar factory, which in reality is anything but green.

If this development is to be stopped, everyone must stand up and unite our voices in opposition.  This blog page is our rallying point.  Everyone needs to be made aware of what we all could lose, potentially forever!

Check back here for all news, events and public meetings to discuss how we can all contribute in preserving our green, open spaces for your children's and grandchildren's sake.