The solar park is set to have the capacity to power have of the City of London Corporation’s electricity needs. Image: Voltalia.
Last week (16 June), saw Voltalia inaugurate its largest-to-date UK solar farm through a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with City of London Corporation.
The 49.9MW South Farm Solar Park in Dorset has been described by the renewable energy company as the ‘first of its kind’ in the country to be signed directly between a renewable energy producer and a governing authority.
The solar park – which received £25 million in funding from Santander UK – is set to have the capacity to power have of the City of London Corporation’s electricity needs.
“Signing a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement with the City of London Corporation has been an important milestone for Voltalia in the UK. The transition to green electricity is gathering pace globally, and the City Corporation is a leader: it has demonstrated the capacity of a public entity to take efficient and meaningful decisions to accelerate this trend,” said Laurent Pillot, head of power sales at Voltalia.
“We are very proud to effectively deliver green energy to the City of London Corporation since the beginning of 2023 and we hope to continue to support City of London in their energy transition path.”
Supplying the Corporation with electricity for the next 15 years, the solar park is expected to provide £3 million in cost savings.
To provide benefits to the local community Voltalia said it has invested over £1 million in the local supply chain within 25 miles of the park.
Deputy policy chairman and policy lead for sustainability at the City of London Corporation, Keith Bottomley, added: “This scheme is a pioneering blueprint by the City Corporation for local authorities across the UK, cutting carbon emissions and giving cheaper, more secure energy, protected from the price volatility of energy markets. The deal will increase our green energy supply, has no reliance on taxpayer funding, and helps us transition quickly away from fossil fuels.”
South Farm Solar Park will add to Voltalia’s growing UK portfolio; recent additions include two solar farms with a combined capacity of 90MW in Dorset.