Crystal Rig Solar Farm (27.5 MW)
Crystal Rig Solar Farm is a 27.5 MW solar farm project in East Lothian, Scotland. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: approved on 30 July 2025, not yet built; the record was last updated on 1 October 2025. As a project over 50 MW in Scotland, it is decided by Scottish Ministers under Section 36.
Planning timeline
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| 1 July 2024 | Application submitted |
| 30 July 2025 | Section 36 consent granted (Scottish Ministers) |
| 30 July 2030 | Permission due to expire (unless work starts) |
Project details
- Technology
- solar farm
- Capacity
- 27.5 MW
- Status (REPD)
- approved, not built
- Record last updated
- 1 October 2025
- Operator or applicant
- Fred Olsen Renewables
- Planning authority
- Scottish Government (S36)
- Planning application reference
- ECU00004759
- Site area
- 27.0 ha
- Address (REPD)
- 13 km S/O Dunbar, Dunbar
- Council area (by location)
- East Lothian
- Time to decision
- 56 weeks
- REPD reference
- 13403
Recorded together with Crystal Rig Wind Farm Phase IV (48 MW wind farm, under construction).
Who decides
As a project over 50 MW in Scotland, it is decided by Scottish Ministers under Section 36. Scottish Government (S36) refused 18% of 334 decided solar, wind and battery applications in REPD (median 127 weeks to a decision). Across all UK planning authorities 19% of 10,236 decided applications were refused.
Other large projects within 10 km
| Project | Type | MW | Status | km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Rig Wind Farm Phase 2a | wind farm | 138 | operational | 2.1 |
| Crystal Rig Extension II | wind farm | 20.7 | operational | 2.4 |
| Crystal Rig Phase 1 Repowering | wind farm | 72 | application submitted | 3.6 |
| Crystal Rig Phase 1 | wind farm | 62.5 | operational | 3.6 |
| Crystal Rig Wind Farm Phase III | wind farm | 13.8 | operational | 4.0 |
| Aikengall II Community Wind Farm Battery | battery storage | 80 | operational | 5.0 |
| Aikengall II, Wester Dod Community Wind Farm | wind farm | 60.8 | operational | 5.2 |
| Aikengall | wind farm | 48 | operational | 5.2 |
Status and dates as recorded in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract); the database is compiled from public sources and can lag behind council decisions. Location: REPD grid reference (55.8939, -2.5622).