- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As made)
This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.
Statutory Instruments
ELECTRICITY
Made
9th June 2025
Laid before Parliament
27th June 2025
Coming into force
31st December 2025
1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Electricity Act 1989 (Requirement of Consent for Solar Generating Stations) (England) Order 2025 and comes into force on 31st December 2025.
(2) This Order extends to England and Wales.
2. In the case of a generating station which generates electricity directly from sunlight and is situated in England, section 36(2)(a) of the Electricity Act 1989 has effect as if for “50 megawatts” there were substituted “100 megawatts”.
Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
9th June 2025
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
(This note is not part of the Order)
Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29) provides that a generating station with a capacity of more than 50 megawatts (“the permitted capacity”) shall not be constructed, extended or operated except in accordance with a consent granted by the Secretary of State.
Section 36 allows the Secretary of State to alter the permitted capacity by making an Order.
This Order increases the permitted capacity for generating stations which generate electricity directly from sunlight, from the permitted capacity to 100 megawatts.
A full impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector has been conducted and will be published separately.
As amended by section 39(9) Wales Act 2017.
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Explanatory Memorandum sets out a brief statement of the purpose of a Statutory Instrument and provides information about its policy objective and policy implications. They aim to make the Statutory Instrument accessible to readers who are not legally qualified and accompany any Statutory Instrument or Draft Statutory Instrument laid before Parliament from June 2004 onwards.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Impact Assessments generally accompany all UK Government interventions of a regulatory nature that affect the private sector, civil society organisations and public services. They apply regardless of whether the regulation originates from a domestic or international source and can accompany primary (Acts etc) and secondary legislation (SIs). An Impact Assessment allows those with an interest in the policy area to understand:
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: