It’s Centrica’s first solar farm! This marks another step along the journey towards the company’s individual climate goals and the UK’s net-zero goal too! So, how much impact is this farm likely to make?
Codford Solar Farm
Centrica’s Codford Solar Farm is in Wiltshire, the second most populous region in the UK for solar farms. At 72 acres, with 33,000 panels, Codford is expected to produce 18 megawatts and 19GWh. That’s enough for 4850 homes!
The new solar farm is just one aspect of Centrica’s broader plan to develop 900MW of low carbon assets by 2026. They made this commitment in 2021. The company is also working on battery storage projects in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Belgium, in order to reach their goal.
This doesn’t just help Centrica. This new addition to the UK’s renewable energy portfolio brings the country closer to meeting its net-zero target. It also helps towards the government’s dream of energy independence.
Centrica Chief Executive, Chris O’Shea spoke about the new solar farm..
“You don’t need the sun to be shining like it is in the summer to be getting energy from solar power, but on a good day it can provide 25% of the UK’s electricity”…”We have no shortage of land, and no shortage of wind”
“Centrica is a uniquely integrated energy company well positioned to both drive, and benefit from, the energy transition. I’m delighted that we’re now back building assets, focussing on clean electricity generation and storage”
Support From Vodafone
Vodafone has agreed to buy 50% of the energy output of Codford Solar Farm. This allows them to work towards Vodafone’s goal of sourcing 47% of its annual energy from UK renewables by 2025. Their support will give Codford security and the ability to develop. This long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) will dedicate 9GWh to Vodafone, allowing the rest to be sent to the national grid.
Chief Network Officer and chair of Vodafone’s Net Zero Steerco, Andrea Dona, said…
“We already use 100% renewable electricity, and we’re committed to supporting the development of UK renewables. Thanks to power purchase agreements like this one, a significant proportion of our energy requirement will be generated in the UK by 2025. Such agreements also bring additional renewable power to the UK grid, and so are good for the country too.”
Conclusion
Centrica’s first solar farm in the UK, predicted to produce 19GWh, promises 9 of those to Vodafone. Hopefully this power purchase agreement will help Centrica further expand this and other renewable energy projects. This new solar farm is just one aspect of the wider collaboration between energy companies, local authorities and governments around the world to bring about a green transition.
As one of the world leaders in renewable energy, the UK may be tempted to rest on their laurels. Grant Shapps, the UK Energy Secretary, claimed this week that the country doesn’t need green energy subsidies like the US, because it’s a decade ahead of the rest of the world. Do you agree with him?
