Cleve Hill’s capacity will be equivalent to half the output of a small gas-fired power station or a ninth of the output planned for the UK’s next nuclear power stations at Hinkley Point, Somerset, and Sizewell in Suffolk.
The project divided environmental groups, with Friends of the Earth welcoming it but the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), Kent Wildlife Trust and the RSPB opposing it.
Ms Ellis, who also lives near the site, said the CPRE supported green power projects but not at any price. She said: “Graveney Marshes is an extremely special place. It is flanked on three sides by protected nature reserves and was afforded high landscape value by Swale borough council.
“One could stand on the marshes and without moving watch the sun rise and set with its open panoramic views towards Sheppey, Whitstable and parts of Faversham. It was one of the last tranquil places around Faversham with incredible views of the night sky. And now it’s gone.”
Tesco said the 15-year power purchase agreement signed with Quinbrook would help green its stores. The addition of Cleve Hill to its portfolio meant power purchase agreements would now cover 45pc of Tesco UK’s expected 2030 electricity demand.
Ken Murphy, Tesco’s group chief executive, said: “Cleve Hill solar park, with its ability to generate up to 10pc of our UK electricity demand, joins a number of other Power Purchase Agreements we’ve announced over the last five years.”
UK’s largest solar farm
Keith Gains, the UK regional lead at Quinbrook, said: “Quinbrook is proud of developing Cleve Hill as we believe it is a blueprint for the next generation of energy transition infrastructure in the UK.”
Shell, which trades in both electricity and renewables certificates, has signed a 10-year agreement with Quinbrook to manage the 35pc of Cleve Hill’s output that is subject to a government contract for difference.
Such contracts guarantee the supplier a minimum price for any power generated, with the price rising in line with inflation – key attractions for investors.
Shell runs about 1,000 forecourts in the UK selling petrol, diesel and, increasingly, offering electric vehicle charging points. It boasts that all the electricity used to charge vehicles comes from renewable sources.
Rupen Tanna, the head of power and systematic trading for Shell Energy Europe, said such schemes were an important part of the UK’s net zero ambitions.
Cleve Hill will be the country’s biggest solar farm by capacity when it comes online. However, Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, has approved several large-scale solar farms since the election that will eclipse it when they become operational. The largest so far is the 600MW Cottam project in Lincolnshire, along with the 500MW Gate Burton project also in Lincolnshire and Sunnica scheme in Suffolk.
Chris Hewett, the chief executive of Solar Energy UK, said the industry planned a three-fold expansion by 2030.
He said: “We can expect to see more deals such as these in the coming years, as the industry scales up to reach 50 gigawatts of generation capacity by 2030.”