utility scale

The UK’s solar capacity would need to nearly triple to 35GW to decarbonise by 2030, a report into the fastest path to decarbonisation over the next decade has found.

Smith Brothers Contracting has been confirmed as the Independent Connection Provider (ICP) for the planned 500MW solar-plus-storage Sunnica Energy Farm.

Gresham House Energy Storage Fund has continued its flurry of activity with the acquisition of a 49MW battery storage project.

While a lot of uncertainty still remains with regards to renewables after Brexit, the growth of subsidy free solar, along with net zero and other targets enshrined in UK law, and the World Trade Organisations (WTO) arrangements should reassure the solar industry. But concerns over imports, skilled staff and growing costs remain.

Gore Street’s 9MW Port of Tilbury battery has been switched on, almost doubling the size of the energy storage fund’s operational asset base to 19MW.

Flexibility aggregator Limejump has signed a short-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Bluefield Solar Income Fund. Limejump will manage the power sale for four solar farms owned by Bluefield, using its Virtual Power Platform (VPP).

Solar power, along with wind and storage capacity, will have to greatly increase if the UK is to meet its net zero emissions by 2050 goal, according to analysis by Aurora Energy Research.

​The government is set to remove a significant barrier to utility-scale storage sites, proposing changes to planning regulations to allow projects over 50MW to proceed without government approval.

Gresham House New Energy has signed a contract with KiWi Power for the optimisation of its 15MW Lockleaze battery in Bristol.

Gresham House has raised £41.6 million through a new share placing to fund both its existing pipeline and a new pipeline of operational and new build assets, falling short of the £58 million it originally targeted.