Solar farming to support research firm

Monday April 18th 2022

Alba-Bioscience

Alba Bioscience is located at the Roslin Biotechnology Centre.


Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp

A new solar farm which will help a research firm reduce its carbon emissions has been given the go ahead by Midlothian planners.

Alba Bioscience had applied for permission to install 18 rows of solar arrays on a grass bund behind its facility at Roslin Biotechnology Centre.

The move will support work at the site, which is part of international diagnostics company Quotient.

A report by planning officers said the proposals will ” assist the applicant in meeting targets for reduction of carbon emissions and will help support Midlothian Science Zone as a thriving location for bioscience research and development.”

Alba Bioscience has offices, laboratories and manufacturing space based in the two-storey building on the campus.

The site at Roslin is Scotland’s first dedicated national bio-manufacturing campus and while the bund is on part of the green belt between Penicuik and Bilston, planners said it would be clear to onlookers that the solar farm was part of the campus.

They said: “The solar farm will be screened from surrounding views by established buffer landscaping.

“Any views of the arrays will clearly show the solar farm as being part of the plot of an established building on a modern science campus.

“No trees will be felled to facilitate the development. The bund is formed from made ground excavated during the construction of the building and there will be no impact on any archaeological features.”

Planning permission was granted with no conditions attached on the grounds the proposal will further the established business within the Midlothian Science Zone and have no detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the surrounding area.

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