Britain’s largest community solar farm forced to idle over grid stability concerns

The Derril Water solar park in north Devon has been shut for its first summer by the National Energy System Operator to prevent a thermal overload of the local transmission network.

• Neso ordered the shutdown of the 9,500-member solar cooperative to keep rooftop solar from exceeding the grid's voltage safety limits.
• The cooperative board said the closure was enforced without warning and will cost members an estimated £2m in lost revenue through September.
• National Grid confirmed it curtailed local generation after Neso required its super-grid transformer to be turned off.
• A National Grid spokesperson said the company is working with Neso to resolve the temporary constraints.