Globally Shell has been developing its portfolio of solar projects in recent years, with projects in Australia, Southeast Asia and the US. Image: Stuart Conway/Shell.
Shell and renewable energy developer Island Green Power have signed a framework agreement to develop solar PV projects with co-located battery storage potential. Together they will target over 700MW of generating capacity.
Additionally, the company has partnered with Clearstone Energy to develop a number of utility-scale solar PV projects in the South-East of England, allowing generation close to customer demand. These will have a total combined export capacity of 100MW, with co-located storage potential.
“Shell is building an integrated power business which spans the renewable generation, trading and supply of clean energy to businesses and consumers,” said David Bunch, chairman of Shell UK. “We will work with both Island Green Power and Clearstone Energy to deliver high-quality solar PV projects to supply more of our UK customers with renewable power.”
The news follows Island Green Power unveiling a major solar PV development at the end of September. It is to develop over 1GW of solar utilising the existing grid connections of two coal power stations in the East Midlands – Cottam and West Burton A.
To date, Island Green has delivered 14 solar projects across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Last year, it formed a joint venture with Foresight to develop a pipeline of nearly 700MW of greenfield solar projects.
Shell’s UK solar projects would contribute to its global target of being a net zero emissions energy business by 2050, a key aspect of which is increasing renewable power generation. In February, it announced that it is to spend between £1.5 billion and £2.2 billion (US$2 billion and US$3 billion) on renewables and energy solutions annually to help reach net zero status by 2050.
While the two new partnerships represent a big step for its operations in the UK, globally it already had a significant number of large-scale solar interests, having acquired a 43% stake in US-based Silicon Ranch in February 2018, as well as having acquired Southeast Asian installer Cleantech Solar later that year and Australia’s ESCO Pacific in December 2019.