German energy company Uniper has entered the construction phase for its 45MW solar generation portfolio in Staffordshire, UK.
Uniper’s solar portfolio in the UK comprises two projects in the Midlands: the Tamworth Solar Farm, with an export capacity of 30MW, and the 15MW Totmonslow Solar Farm in the Moors.
Uniper expects construction to begin this year, with first power due in 2026. Both projects received planning consent in 2023, and the Tamworth project was awarded a Contract for Difference (CfD) in allocation round 6 (AR6) in August 2024.
Alex Smethers, head of renewables UK for Uniper, pointed out the solar developments are some of Uniper’s first renewable energy projects in the UK. The energy company has committed to investing about €8 billion (£6.6 billion) into ‘growth and transformation’ projects by the early 2030s. This includes the development of its European portfolio of solar and onshore wind projects.
As covered on our sister site, PV Tech, Uniper is also beginning construction of solar developments in Germany and Hungary.
Much of Uniper’s activity in the UK to date has been in gas-powered generation. It also owned the Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal-fired power plant which was decommissioned last year.
The energy company says it is exploring opportunities to develop renewables projects in and around its existing power stations, focusing on solar and onshore wind with some projects also including installation of battery storage facilities.
More on Uniper’s solar developments in Europe is available on PV Tech.
