A proposal to build a solar farm and natural gas production plant on a farmer’s field just to the north of Swindon is almost certainly on its way.

Rivan Industries Ltd, which runs gas production plants, has put in query to planners at Swindon Borough Council to ask if an environmental impact assessment would be needed for the plan to install solar panels and the gas production plant on a field north of Blunsdon, off Little Rose Lane.

As well as the panels, the production plant would be equivalent to 15 40-foot shipping containers sited on the field.

Such requests are commonly a precursor to a full planning application.

Rivan Industries produced renewable natural gas by heating limestone to release carbon dioxide that it has absorbed from the air. Meanwhile, water molecules are separated using electricity into hydrogen and oxygen.

The hydrogen and carbon dioxide and then heated in a reactor to produce the gas that would be fed directly into the gas grid via a pipeline.

The solar panels would be needed to create the energy for the gas production process.

The screening opinion request says: “Rivan Industries is a synthetic fuel developer on a mission to remove the 12 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide being emitted into the atmosphere by heavy industry every year. Rivan’s innovative solar-powered synthetic fuel modules generate renewable natural gas for use in hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation, chemical manufacturing, and steel making.”

The company says there will be no harmful emissions, and no need for tankers to be visiting the site out in the countryside: “During operation, the proposed development will only generate oxygen emissions to air - which is a by-product of hydrogen electrolysis. Oxygen is a harmless gas. No other gases are planned to be emitted to the air.

“The gas that is produced will be injected into the national gas pipeline network, which runs to the immediate south of the site, which will be connected via a pipeline. No fuels will be transported to and from the site by vehicular or other means.

It adds: “In terms of visual impact, the site is located in a relatively flat agricultural field which is well screened by dense, tall mature hedgerows. The surrounding land is also flat. Very distant views may be possible from the south where the land is elevated.”

If council officers decide an impact assessment is necessary, one will have to be added to the full application if and when it is lodged.