THE busy world of business in the City of London feels a million miles away from the Dorset countryside.

But the two are now heavily linked after the official opening of the new South Farm Solar Park, near Spetisbury.

French energy firm Voltalia cut the ribbon on the 49.9MW facility – the largest in the UK – on Friday (June 16).

But the energy generated – enough to power some 15,000 homes – will not be staying in the county.

It is being supplied to Guildhall, Tower Bridge, three markets and the Barbican Arts Centre in London – more than 100 miles away.

Voltalia has signed a £40m contract with the City Corporation – based at the Guildhall – which runs for 15 years.

South Farm Solar Park was connected to the grid in December last year and started delivering electricity to the London district at the beginning of the year.

The park is generating power for the Guildhall in London, and others. Picture: Google

Volatlia said South Farm is on of a number of projects it is working on in the UK, including at North Dairy Farm, near Dorchester and at Hardy’s Vale.

However, the schemes have received opposition in some quarters, with residents claiming the solar parks are a blot on the landscape.

Rupert Hardy, chairman of North Dorset CPRE, said the Spetisbury development was ‘desecrating our beautiful landscape’.

“At a time of concern over food security, land should be used to provide food for Dorset rather than powering bankers’ offices in the City of London.”

He added the project was also “desecrating our beautiful landscape”.

CEO of Voltalia, Sébastien Clerc, said the firm had invested more than £800,000 within 25 miles of the development.

“In the current energy crisis, we are very proud to supply clean and cheap electricity to some of London’s most iconic landmarks,” he said.

And chair of the City Corporation’s environment committee, Keith Bottomley, said: “The deal will increase our green energy supply, has no reliance on taxpayer funding, and helps us transition quickly away from fossil fuels.”