RWE has begun construction of seven solar farms in the UK.
The new sites will have a combined installed capacity of 330MW of solar power with 45MW of co-located battery storage (BESS) being installed at two of the sites.
The projects are the first to be constructed by RWE following its acquisition of JBM Solar, one of the UK’s largest independent solar and co-located battery developers.
The acquisition added around 3.8GW of solar capacity and 2.3GW of battery development to RWE’s generation portfolio.
Katja Wünschel, chief executive of RWE renewables Europe & Australia, said: “The deployment of these seven new projects represents a significant milestone for RWE as we grow and diversify our clean energy portfolio through solar and battery power, in one of our most strategically important markets.
“Quick to deploy and using the most modern solar technologies, we aim to maximise the generation potential of these sites for the UK; with a national target to increase solar capacity five-fold by 2035 and similar for battery storage, our projects will play a key role in helping ensure the UK decarbonises its power grid and achieves its challenging net zero targets.”
The projects all have already successfully secured Contracts for Difference.
They are being constructed to facilitate the future co-location of BESS where this is not already being installed.
The first of the seven sites is due to become fully operational by the end of 2024.
RWE said it aims to commission on average 450MW of new UK solar capacity per year up to 2030 in support of the UK’s ambitions for 70GW of solar capacity by 2035.
The construction of the solar plants is being supported by Ethical Power and Equans. They will provide a range of engineering, procurement and construction services at the seven solar farm projects.
The seven RWE projects include:
- Langford – 35MW solar + 35MW BESS
- Claydon – 45MW solar +10MW BESS
- Cotmoor – 50MW
- Moreton Lane – 50MW
- Doverdale – 50MW
- Stoneshollow – 50MW
- Ashorne – 50MW