South West Water has installed more solar panels across its operational sites after the company’s existing solar assets generated more than one million kilowatt-hours in 2012.  

In December 2011 the company invested £3 million in solar arrays at 23 water and sewage treatment works in Devon and Cornwall.    

As a result of the sites’ performance, the water company has installed solar at another seven of its operational sites in Devon, bringing the total to 30 solar arrays.  

The seven new sites have a combined capacity of 400kW which will help South West Water generate 410,000kWh of additional energy. The sites range from 24kW at Willand Water Pumping Station, near Tiverton, to 150kW – the company's biggest installation to date – at Yelland Sewage Treatment Works, near Barnstaple.

James Pearce, project manager for South West Water's H5O partnership, commented: “We installed our first batch of solar panels at six sites in December 2011, and added another 17 sites in March last year.

“To have generated over a million kilowatt hours of green energy is a fantastic achievement and is helping us to reduce electricity costs at these sites.

“Adding more solar panels is part of our drive to reduce the company's carbon footprint and help combat climate change. We also operate hydro-electric and biogas plants and a wind turbine, and the new solar panels will help to further develop our renewable energy capability.”