Benu Energy has completed a ground mounted solar farm in the shadow of two wind turbines to add to the renewable energy being generated for Bristol City Council.

The 7,000 panel array has been installed on the site of a former oil depot in Avonmouth to create a 1.8MWp solar farm. Benu Energy partnered with Ikaros Solar to design and build the array in time for the recent feed-in tariff (FiT) deadline.

James Bracegirdle, managing director for Benu Energy, said: “We were absolutely delighted to be selected by Bristol City Council – who ran their tender process through Public Power Solutions – to build the solar farm.

“The success of the project is a great advert for what can be done on brown field sites – turning redundant land into a generation station to help reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment for the future”.

As well as providing a new income for the council through the FiT, the energy created at the site is expected to save over 850 tonnes of CO2 per year and provide the equivalent energy consumption of over 450 houses.

James King, energy supply programme manager at Bristol City Council, said: “The Council is always looking to find ways to operate more efficiently. The solar farm is located next to two existing wind turbines and is a great use of the old oil depot site.  The solar farm will help reduce our carbon footprint as we strive to become a more environmentally sustainable Council.”

The development is the latest to be completed as part of Bristol City Council’s environmental strategy as European Green Capital in 2015. The council intends to continue its sustainable energy activities with a programme of Solar PV, energy efficiency and district heat projects.

George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol, said: “Bristol’s great year as European Green Capital has been judged a huge success by the European Commission and all who have taken part; however it certainly does not stop here! As far as I’m concerned this is just the beginning of an exciting journey towards Bristol becoming one of the most resilient and liveable cities in the world.”