
Swiss energy producer Axpo has signed a ten-year agreement with British Solar Renewables (BSR) to buy power from BSR’s Wiltshire solar PV power plant.
Axpo has agreed to purchase all metered output from BSR’s 25MW Whaddon Farm solar PV power plant, which also features a 16MWh co-located battery energy storage system (BESS). The decade-long power purchase agreement (PPA) is the first that Axpo and BSR have signed together, and the deal will allow Axpo to trade this energy on the UK wholesale market.
Additionally, BSR has contracted Flextricity to optimise the BESS through a bespoke trading agreement between Axpo and Flextricity. Axpo states that this optimization agreement will ensure there is an accurate settlement between the boundary meter and BESS asset meter, preventing loss of value between the solar offtake and dynamic optimisation of the BESS.
British Solar Renewables CEO Tim Humpage said: “We are pleased to offer Axpo the opportunity to deliver clean energy solutions to their customers. Their commitment to a decarbonised future closely aligns with our own, and this initiative plays a crucial role in advancing the UK’s position as a clean energy leader, supporting the government’s ambitious target of reducing emissions by 81% by 2035.”
Axpo UK senior originator Rob Bullyment added: “This agreement with BSR is an important step in the development of our UK business, supporting clients on their sustainability journey”.
Flexitricity CEO Andy Lowe commented: “This collaboration is a prime example of how innovative partnerships can contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable energy system, and support the National Energy System Operator’s Clean Power 2030 ambitions”.
BSR’s success continues
This latest deal follows a year of success for BSR in 2024, with a number of solar PV power plants being granted approval throughout the year.
In late May, BSR announced that it had been granted planning permission for a 21MW solar PV power plant in Suffolk, the second Suffolk development of BSR’s to be granted permission that year. Just weeks later, Maldon District Council granted BSR planning permission for the 19MW Dengie Solar Park in Essex, which is expected to begin construction in early 2025. December 2024 also saw another BSR project in Essex be granted planning permission, the 49.9MW Knowl Green Solar Park.
In June 2024, BSR closed its first portfolio financing for five assets built or under construction in the UK and Australia, financed by Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Lloyds Bank.