West Sussex County Council has powered up its first subsidy-free solar farm, capable of generating enough clean electricity to power 2,000 homes for the next 25 years.
Westhampnett solar farm near Chichester features large batteries to store surplus electricity and release it to the grid when consumer energy demand peaks.
The 7.4MW solar farm, which has been built on a closed landfill next to the A27, forms part of the county council’s long-term energy strategy to increase the amount of renewable energy generated and consumed in the county.
The Westhampnett project marks the second solar farm to be completed by the local authority. Tangmere solar farm, which was completed in 2015, already generates enough clean energy for 1,500 homes.
Solar panels on council buildings, including offices, schools and fire stations are also producing clean energy and helping to reduce energy costs across the county. More than 70 West Sussex schools will be generating clean solar energy by the end of this financial year.
County council leader Louise Goldsmith said: “I am delighted to see the completion of Westhampnett solar farm. Living in the sunniest county, it makes absolute sense for us to use our natural resources and to generate clean energy that can be fed in to the local electricity grid.
“As one of the first solar farms to be built with battery storage and free from government subsidy, we are blazing a trail among local authorities and demonstrating that councils have a role to play as local leaders on energy.”
With more solar farms and battery sites planned, the county council wants to supply more “locally-generated” renewable energy to households through Your Energy Sussex, its council-backed energy supplier.