Trans Pennine solar farm handed over to borough council

Sustainable energy business GRIDSERVE today announced the completion and hand over of an advanced solar farm near York to Warrington Borough Council.

The project is designed to pave the way for a nationwide expansion of subsidy-free renewable power, to meet the UK’s net zero power commitments.

The 34.7MWp solar farm is at Boscar Grange, near Easingwold.

It is the largest to be completed since 2016, and is pioneering a new commercial model using 30 MWh of battery storage and sophisticated technologies to maximise revenues and help balance the grid – both during the day with direct solar generation and at night with energy stored in the 30MW battery.

It generates enough energy to supply a town, and demonstrates how local authorities can partner with developers to deliver projects which cut carbon, supply clean electricity, and generate millions of pounds for councils to fund essential services.

Toddington Harper, CEO and founder of GRIDSERVE, said: “It’s our collective responsibility to prevent runaway climate change and protect species, so let’s be the change and make it happen.

“Projects like this, which also require no Government subsidy whatsoever, demonstrate that the UK can meet its net zero obligations well before 2050 and enable us to move the needle in delivering radical carbon reductions within the next 10-years.

“We’ve completely rethought the solar model to maximise value, and we’ve now demonstrated that we have what it takes to make projects like this a reality.

“To replicate this success, we are now looking to partner with additional landowners, developers, and to acquire project rights.”

In addition to the York hybrid solar project, Warrington Borough Council is also buying a second 25.7MWp solar farm at Hull, which is due to be handed over early next year.

GRIDSERVE will operate and maintain both projects over their lifetimes to maximise system performance and value for the council.

Warrington expects the two projects to generate millions of pounds in profits every year and generate an operating surplus of over a £100m over 30 years to invest in essential services.

Electricity from York hybrid solar farm will be sold on the open market, while Hull will supply all the council’s energy needs. The deal will make it the first local authority to produce all its own electricity.

Warrington Borough Council leader, Councillor Russ Bowden, said: “The completion of this groundbreaking project is a huge milestone for the council.

“This investment strengthens our commitment to tackle the climate emergency, and will also help us secure our energy supply, give us control over our energy prices, and contribute to reducing fuel poverty.

“At the same time, the solar farm is an important part of our ‘invest to save’ programme, and we expect it to generate an operating surplus of millions of pounds that can be ploughed back into delivering vital council services.

“We’re delighted to be working in partnership with GRIDSERVE on this cutting-edge scheme and we are proud to have delivered the UKs most advanced solar farm.

“It’s great news for Warrington and also sets the bar for other local authorities in what can be achieved by working with the right partners, with a shared ambition.”

The York hybrid solar project, which produces enough energy to power more than 20,000 electric vehicles every year, was completed in five months.

GRIDSERVE installed more than 90,000 solar panels, 30MWh of batteries and 500 kilometres of cable on the 198 acre site – an area the size of more than 100 football pitches.

The project demonstrates a number of “firsts” for the UK solar industry. It is the first UK solar farm to use bifacial solar panels, which generate electricity on both sides.

And it is the first large-scale UK project to use trackers which follow the sun, maximising generation over the whole day.

The facility’s 27MW(ac) lithium-ion battery storage system and two-way grid connection allows it to store electricity to achieve better power prices and provide services that help National Grid balance supply and demand.

Adjacent to the solar farm site, GRIDSERVE plans to build one of the first of a network of over 100 Electric Forecourts® designed specifically for the needs of electric vehicle drivers.

The Electric Forecourt® will offer convenient, ultra-fast, low-cost charging for private and fleet vehicles, supplied by the solar farm.

 

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