Solar Power Portal’s most read ground-mount solar PV stories of 2021: Solar moves beyond 50MW

Over the last year, the ground-mount solar sector in the UK has gone from strength to strength, as the post-subsidy market really took off.

Solar Power Portal takes a look back at our most read ground-mount solar stories of 2021.

1. UK solar farm pipeline at 17GW capacity, 58 sites under review for 2021 construction
Published: 5 May 2021

The most read story of last year came from Solar Media’s head of market research Finlay Colville, and looked at the burgeoning pipeline of projects in the UK’s ground-mounted sites. As of April 2021, the pipeline of projects reached 17GW, with 800-900MW of new sites being identified every month.

2. Hartree Partners launches 4GW solar enterprise AMPYR Solar Europe
Published: 1 February 2021
Up next, was trading firm Hartree Partners launching a new 4GW solar enterprise, dubbed AMPYR Solar Europe (ASE).

The new company is the result of a joint venture between the energy trading company, AGP Group and NaGa Solar, and is looking to build out solar projects in the UK, the Netherlands and Germany.

3. Island Green Power to develop 1GW+ of solar on ex-coal sites
Published: 29 September 2021
The third most read story was Island Green Power’s plans to develop over 1GW of solar at two retired coal power stations in the East Midlands – Cottam and West Burton A.

The two solar farms are to cross the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire county border, utilising the grid connection points of the Cottam Power Station, which closed in 2019, and West Burton A, which is due to close next year.

4. Low Carbon eyes 500MW solar and energy storage site as NSIP market gains pace
Published: 14 October 2021
In one of a number of announcements of mega solar farms, Low Carbon confirmed its plans to develop a 500MW solar and energy storage park in Lincolnshire, with the initial consultation anticipated to take place in early 2022.
The extent of the land available means it can be delivered wholly within one site, which will be located in the West Lindsay District near Gate Burton, Knaith Park and Willingham-by-Stow.

5. Bluefield acquires 70MWp solar plant in Wiltshire
Published: 11 January 2021
Rounding out the top five biggest ground-mount solar stories on Solar Power Portal in 2021, is UK-based green finance group Bluefield Solar Income Fund’s (BSIF) acquisition of a fully operational 70MWp solar park in Wiltshire in a deal worth £89 million.
The Bradenstoke Solar Park, which was built in early 2015, sits on a former RAF airbase and will start generating revenue for Bluefield Solar from 1 April this year. The company now oversees a total installed capacity of 612MWp, which is made of UK solar assets with “high levels” of government-backed revenue streams, according to a statement.