Green Light for U.K.'s Largest Floating Solar Project

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)

Summary

The U.K.'s largest floating solar photovoltaic (PV) project has been green lit for the Port of Barrow in Cumbria, where it will supply power for local engineering companies including submarine contractor BAE Systems (London).

Big Boost for U.K. Floating Solar

The largest planned floating solar power project in the U.K. has been granted planning permission. 

The Barrow EnergyDock project, located in the Port of Barrow in Cumbria in the north of England, will be home to a 46,500-panel array capable of generating 32 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough for roughly 14,000 homes. It is being developed by Associated British Ports (ABP) (London), the country's largest ports group, with the goal of supplying clean energy to the advanced manufacturing companies nearby, including submarine manufacturer BAE Systems (London). The company claimed it will "help control electricity costs at the port, reduce carbon emissions, and improve energy resilience for local industry." The project is a key part of ABP's 'masterplan' for the port, which also includes providing facilities for the planned £11 billion (US$14.5 billion) investment in the offshore wind energy construction in the East Irish Sea, along with new operations and maintenance facilities, berths for hydrogen imports and carbon storage projects which will use the Rampside Gas Terminals. 

Kirsten Abbott, senior project manager, Energy Generation and Storage, at ABP, said: "We are delighted to receive approval for this landmark project, which represents a significant step towards cleaner, more resilient energy for the region. Barrow EnergyDock demonstrates our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that support industry and reduce carbon emissions."

Project Highlights

The solar panels will be mounted on floating pontoons fixed at an optimum angle for solar generation and secured to the dock bed by an anchoring system, according to ABP. The proposed array would cover around one-third of the dock's water area and comprise approximately 47,000 panels. Compared to a land-based solar farm, ABP claimed the project would allow valuable land to be used for other expansion projects, including facilitating the major expansion of offshore windfarms in the East Irish Sea. Industrial Info is tracking three large, floating solar PV projects in the U.K. worth more than US$90 million in investment. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database can click here for the reports. 

Floating Solar in Europe

Floating solar farms are a small, but growing segment within the booming European solar power market. Industrial Info reported recently on plans for a much larger floating solar PV project in Slovenia. The Družmirje floating solar power plant, which will have a capacity of 140 MW, will be located on Lake Družmirje near a former coal mine in the coal-mining Savinjsko-Šaleška (SAŠA) region. Europe's largest planned floating solar project, Hollandse Kust Zuid, is located in the sea off the Dutch coast and will be marginally larger than the Družmirje project at 150 MW. Industrial Info is tracking more than 70 projects in the pipeline worth more than US$2.1 billion in investment.

Key Takeaways

• Green light granted for the U.K.'s largest floating solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Cumbria
• It will have a generating capacity of 32 MW and is one of three such projects in the U.K. 
• Industrial Info is tracking more than 70 European solar PV in the pipeline worth more than US$2.1 billion in investment.

About Industrial Info Resources

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).