Octopus Energy Generation has committed to investing £2 billion in UK clean energy initiatives, including 222MW of solar capacity, by 2030. This major investment will support the development of four new solar farms in Bristol, Essex, East Riding of Yorkshire, and Wiltshire, in collaboration with BayWa r.e.
Construction on three of these solar farms is set to begin later this year, with the fourth project breaking ground in 2025. The sale includes project rights for the 50 MW Perrinpit Road solar park, which BayWa r.e. developed alongside Grune Energien Solar under a joint venture.
Among the upcoming solar developments are the 48 MW Driffield solar park in East Riding of Yorkshire, and two projects awarded to Powersystems: the 52 MW South Fambridge Hall solar park in Rochford, Essex, and the 72 MW Corner Copse solar park near Swindon, Wiltshire. BayWa r.e. will oversee the construction of all three projects under an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) arrangement, with Driffield also incorporating a 30 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) to be built by Octopus.
BayWa r.e. will manage the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the solar assets. Christine McGregor, Managing Director for UK & Ireland at BayWa r.e., commented: “Our strong UK team has prepared these high-quality solar projects for construction, ensuring a near-term start to green energy production. We are excited to continue our successful partnership with Octopus Energy Generation to contribute to the UK’s energy transition.”
These solar farms, funded through Octopus Energy Development Partnership (OEDP) and the Sky fund (ORI SCSp), will be operational between 2025 and 2026. Octopus is also expanding its energy storage capacity with the development of a new 12 MW battery project in Cheshire.
With these new additions, Octopus Energy Generation now supports 16 onshore wind farms, three offshore sites, three battery projects, 138 solar farms, and thousands of rooftop PV systems across the UK. The company has also increased its stake in British solar and storage developer Exagen to 100%, further accelerating the rollout of renewable energy projects in the UK.
Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation, said: “The UK is on the brink of a green energy revolution. This £2 billion investment in renewables will strengthen our energy security and pave the way for a more affordable energy future. Solar and onshore wind are the cheapest forms of energy, and by building closer to demand, we can maximise green electricity when it’s abundant and lower bills for customers across the country.”
With additional plans to submit new onshore wind turbine applications following recent planning reforms, Octopus continues to expand its renewable energy portfolio, bringing the UK closer to its green energy goals.
Notes to Editors:
Contact Information:
- This article is written by Jules Daly, Marketing and Communications Manager at Powersystems.
- Email jules.daly@powersystemsuk.com Telephone 01454 318000
- Photography Copyright please credit all images used to powersystemsuk.co.uk
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Powersystems is a leading high voltage specialist electrical engineering company with over 48 years of experience. Renowned for its expertise and reliability, Powersystems has become a trusted provider of design, installation, and commissioning services for electrical infrastructure and grid connections across the UK.
As the first Lloyds National Electricity Registration Scheme accredited Independent Connection Provider (ICP), Powersystems has been delivering contestable grid connections at voltages up to 132 kV for 28 years.
Since 2000, Powersystems has successfully connected over 6.1 gigawatts of renewable energy to the UK electricity grid. Our projects span many sectors from onshore and offshore wind, solar energy, tidal and hydroelectric power, electric vehicle infrastructure, as well as generation installations for short-term operating reserves (STOR), combined heat and power (CHP), grid stability initiatives such as rotating stabilisers, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and commercial industrial private wire networks.
In collaboration with partners, Powersystems has connected 30% of all onshore wind farms in the UK, contributing significantly to the nation’s renewable energy capacity to collectively work towards a sustainable future to help the UK achieve Net Zero by 2050.
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