Plans for the Halfway Energy Park, a 500-megawatt (MW) solar farm coupled with a 100MW battery energy storage system, have been submitted for approval in the Carse of Gowrie, between Perth and Dundee. The ambitious project, proposed by global renewables company Aukera, could become the UK’s largest operational solar facility, significantly surpassing the current record holder.
The development, which would span extensive farmland on both sides of the A90 between Errol, Inchture, and Rait, has already ignited substantial local opposition. Campaigners in the Carse of Gowrie region express apprehension over the “truly massive” scale of the project.
One local councillor highlighted the sheer size, stating it would cover “an area bigger than Blairgowrie.” For context, Blairgowrie, a town in Perth and Kinross, occupies an area of approximately 5.29 square kilometres.
Another councillor, Alasdair Bailey, emphasised that the proposed development would be “truly massive in scale”, making it “many times larger than any that are planned in Scotland, or operational in England.”
Currently, the largest operational solar farm in the UK is the 373MW Cleve Hill scheme in Kent, which commenced operations in July 2025 and also incorporates a 150MW battery storage system.
In Scotland, the largest planned solar farm is the Springfield project in East Lothian, at 165MW with an 80MW battery capacity, and which has also had opposition from the local council there.
Aukera itself is also developing a 700MW Tasway Energy Park in South Norfolk, which would exceed the Halfway Energy Park in scale if approved.
The Halfway Energy Park proposal, which includes a substation, cabling, security fencing, and CCTV, is being put forward by Aukera, a renewable energy company with a development pipeline exceeding 15 gigawatts across several European markets. Opponents argue the solar farm would be highly visible across the low-lying Carse, as well as from parts of North Fife and Dundee.
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Carse of Gowrie Conservative councillor Angus Forbes has received over 100 emails concerning the project since plans emerged, noting a significant increase in public concern. He stated he has been “heartened by the response.” Support has also come from campaigners in the Coupar Angus area, who successfully challenged a smaller 49.9MW solar farm proposal last year.
The plans have been submitted as a 198-page “scoping report” to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU). Applications for onshore electricity generating stations with a capacity exceeding 50MW are determined by Scottish Ministers via the ECU. Perth and Kinross Council, along with Dundee, Angus, and Fife councils, will be consulted. An objection from Perth and Kinross Council, as a statutory consultee, would likely trigger a public local inquiry.
Councillor Forbes added: “The good thing is we have time on our side. These things usually take around five to seven years from application to permission.”
