Doncaster’s £7 Billion Energy Gamble

If I told you £7 billion was being spent to power Doncaster for the next 40 years, you’d expect:

Warm homes every winter.

Lower bills for families.

Secure, reliable energy for businesses.The truth is very different.South Yorkshire is about to see over £7 billion sunk into giant solar farms and batteries at Fenwick, Whitestone, and Tween Bridge, plus new substations at Thorpe Marsh and Brinsworth. On paper it looks like progress. But dig into the details and the numbers don’t add up.

The Reality Behind the Spin

Winter Power Gap – In December and January, all these solar farms together will generate less than 100 MW. That’s barely enough to keep Doncaster running, never mind the rest of South Yorkshire.

Sky-High Cost – Once you count the replacement of solar panels, replacing batteries every 12–15 years, and grid upgrades of over £400m, the real cost comes in at £140 per MWh – higher than nuclear or gas.

Land Lost Forever – Over 4,000 hectares of farmland will disappear under glass and fencing. Promises of “biodiversity gain” cannot replace lost food production or countryside.

No Bill Relief – Families won’t see cheaper bills. In fact, standing charges and grid levies will keep rising to pay for it.Still Dependent – Even after £7 billion, Doncaster will still rely on nuclear, gas, or imports to keep the lights on through the winter.

A Better Way

For the same money, Britain could build two Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors, generating reliable, affordable power for 40 years – without swallowing farmland. Pair that with rooftop solar film and flexible gas, and South Yorkshire could deliver true energy sovereignty with lower bills and stronger security.South Yorkshire is being turned into a testbed for a failed experiment.

Doncaster deserves better.👉 Read the full technical evidence in our new report:

Solar Deployment in South Yorkshire: A 40-Year Technical and Economic Assessment

📄 South_Yorkshire_Solar_Report.pdf