- RWE begins constructing seven new solar and battery projects in the UK
- The new sites will have a combined capacity of 330MW solar power with 45MW battery storage (BESS)
- Two UK companies have been contracted to start the construction; solar power is increasingly important for clean energy in the UK.
RWE has taken a big step towards establishing its first solar farms in the UK, with seven projects, representing 330 megawatts (MW) of new, clean electricity capacity, now entering construction.
The projects are the first to be built from the solar portfolio acquired by RWE through its purchase of JBM Solar, one of the UK’s largest independent solar and co-located battery developers. The acquisition of around 3.8 gigawatts (GW) capacity of solar and 2.3 GW of battery development projects positioned RWE as one of the UK’s biggest solar developers, and demonstrated the company’s commitment to its continued investment in UK clean energies.
Preparations are now happening at the sites, investing in new green infrastructure, alongside biodiversity net gains and local community benefits. The projects, all of which have already successfully secured Contracts for Difference, are being built to allow for future battery storage (BESS) where this is not already being installed, to maximize use of the Grid.
Katja Wünschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia: “Building these seven new projects marks a significant milestone for RWE as we expand and diversify our clean energy portfolio through solar and battery power, in one of our most strategically important markets. Rapid to deploy and using the most modern solar technologies, we aim to maximize 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 decarbonizes its power grid and achieves its challenging net zero targets.”
The first of the seven sites is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2024, with the rest to follow soon after. Once fully operational, the sites will be able to meet the average annual electricity needs of over 140,000 typical UK homes, reducing UK carbon emissions by an estimated 8 million tonnes during their lifetime. Working closely with local parishes, RWE’s projects will also provide a total of £645,000 in community benefits to the neighboring area directly supporting local projects, as well as supporting local jobs and opportunities for local businesses.
RWE 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. Globally, RWE plans to increase its installed solar capacity from 3.9 GW to 16 GW by 2030.
In preparation for the construction works, RWE has awarded major construction contracts to two UK-based contractors, Ethical Power and also Equans UK & Ireland, under its new brand Equans Solar & Storage. They will provide a comprehensive range of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) services to seven of RWE’s solar farm projects located across England, from north Devon to Lincolnshire.
Tom Kneen, CEO and Founder of Ethical Power: “We are happy to have been chosen by RWE for this leading development where we will be able to demonstrate the full range of our abilities. Alongside RWE, we will keep pushing to make the UK's energy systems cleaner, tapping into the huge potential of clean energy. We are at the forefront of technological progress. It is extremely important to us to offer the best performance and service quality. Working on the DC coupled battery storage with RWE gives us the chance to do this on a large scale once again. We will use the knowledge and experience in our teams to help introduce new ideas and technology to the UK market.”
Gregory Allouis, Energy Solutions Director for Equans UK & Ireland: “We are very happy to assist RWE in achieving their goals in the UK by using our expertise in energy engineering innovation in the solar market. Across various projects, we will use different and advanced technologies to produce clean energy for the UK economy locally. Additionally, our work will benefit local communities and create jobs. There is no time to waste in the fight against global warming, and as engineers, it is our responsibility to do our part now. By collaborating with RWE, we can speed up the journey to Net Zero together.”
The seven RWE projects represent a total of 330MW solar & 45 MW BESS installed capacity.
- Langford – 35MW solar + 35MW BESS.
- Claydon – 45MW solar +10MW BESS
- Cotmoor – 50MW
- Moreton Lane – 50MW
- Doverdale – 50MW
- Stoneshollow – 50MW
- Ashorne – 50MW
