An energy company has received planning permission to build solar photovolataic panels in the UK's first large-scale sun park.

Energy company Ecotricity has received planning permission to build solar photovolataic panels in the UK's first large-scale sun park.

The company will build its panels next to its existing wind farm in Lincolnshire, which opened in 2008. Ecotricity hopes the two projects will work together to create a hybrid energy park. The latter is expected to be fully operational by March 2011.

Generating up to 1mW, the panels will stand in 59 rows at 2 metres high, and the company believes it could provide power to 280 homes.

Ecotricity's founder, Dale Vince, says the hybrid technologies will allow for power to be generated all year round, "with wind power excelling in winter and the panels being more effective in summer".