A new solar farm which could power hundreds of homes has opened in Kent.

The scheme on Blaise Farm in Kings Hill is the second by Kent County Council (KCC) and is set to generate around three million kWh of renewable electricity per year - the equivalent of 750 homes.

The 11.9-acre site is a temporary structure that will be removed after 30 years, leaving no impact on the land.

The funding for the farm’s construction benefitted from a £20million grant from the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation scheme.

Its total cost was £5.044 million, of which KCC contributed £1.545 million to the scheme.

Bosses say the new solar farm significantly contributes to the authority's goal of becoming net zero by 2030.

“It is essential that KCC leads by example when working towards a greener Kent,” Rob Thomas, KCC’s cabinet member for environment.

“We have committed ourselves to reducing greenhouse gas emissions across all areas of business.

“Hence, we reach our target of Net Zero by 2030, as set out in the council’s Framing Kent’s Future strategy.

He added: “I am proud to be opening our second solar farm and our first in Kent, Kings Hill.

“Solar farms play a crucial role in transitioning to a flourishing green economy.

“I hope this inspires our partners to work together towards carbon-zero energy production to ensure that Kent as a whole is Net Zero by 2050.”

It’s hoped the farm will offset 621 tonnes of carbon per year and generate an estimated annual revenue of £13 million over its lifetime.

All trees removed during construction have been replanted alongside the addition of a wildflower meadow bank, shelter areas for animals in winter and bat and bird boxes.

LASER Energy will run the site on behalf on KCC and their director of energy and carbon, Nigel Hartnup was happy to see the partnership get off the ground.

He said: “LASER is pleased to work with KCC and other partners on the delivery and ongoing running of Kings Hill Solar Park.

“This is a key project in Kent County Council’s decarbonisation plans, self-supplying green energy equivalent to 8% of the council’s corporate and highways electricity requirements and helps to offset high energy prices we continue to experience in the UK.”

It comes after Britain’s biggest planned solar farm, Cleve Hill, located in Graveney, between Faversham and Whitstable, was given the go-ahead by the government in May 2020 and is currently under construction.

The project requires a 25-acre 150 megawatt battery storage facility to be built to store power generated by the 880,000 solar panels and had prompted fears among residents of a fire or “explosion”.

Swale council had refused permission for the battery safety plan but Cleve Hill Solar Park would appeal to the government Planning Inspectorate against the decision, which the inspectorate upheld. A process expected to cost the taxpayer thousands.

To read more about why are there so many new solar farms in Kent click here.

Proposals for a 400-acre site in Aldington – between Ashford and Folkestone – were also criticised recently for their impact on neighbouring property prices.