The first £1.5 million has been spent on more than 5,000 solar panels at its Fleetwood wastewater treatment works. The company will invest the rest of the funds over the next five years.
UU energy manager Neil Carroll said: “Our aim over the next five years is to create solar systems across a number of our sites in the North West which will help us run parts of our processes using clean electricity.”
He added: “For a business like us, solar energy just makes sense. We’re committed to increasing efficiency and reducing the cost of energy to run our sites, therefore reducing the effect of rising energy costs on us and our customers’ bills – while also helping to reduce pollution and protect our environment.”
The water company is also planning to install wind turbines at a number of sites to reduce its reliance on grid-supplied electricity.