The UK’s largest operator and owner of solar PV assets, Lightsource Renewable Energy has announced that it is offering up to £40,000 per MW for introduced sites.

The developer is hoping to uncover new solar farm sites with suitable grid connections and a strong possibility of planning permission “as soon as possible” with the new offer.  

Conor McGuigan, the company’s business development director, explained the impetus behind the new scheme: “With the potential of another ROC drop and future political uncertainty, the time to act is now.”

McGuigan is referencing the government’s warning that it could look to step in and curtail deployment of sub 5MW solar if levels grow “more rapidly than can be afforded”.

Figures published on Friday suggested that Lightsource was responsible for almost half of the estimated 1.5GW of capacity installed in the first quarter of 2015. McGuigan added that the company submitted 44 planning permission requests in the run up to the 1.4ROC deadline, with 83% winning approval.