Another UK first for solar
Solar plant developer Lighthouse Renewable Energy Ltd has completed a 5MW project near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire in conjunction with PV installers Solarcentury.
The 20,000 panel array at Chittering will provide enough electricity during daylight hours to power 70 percent of AmeyCespa's mechanical biological treatment plant thereby creating the UK's first solar powered waste treatment plant.
The solar plant's annual production of 4,552MWh is sufficient to power the equivalent of over 1,200 homes continuously and will significantly benefit high-electricity users such as AmeyCespa through reduced bills. Lighthouse will supply AmeyCespa through a power purchase agreement (PPA) for 25 years whereby it owns and maintains the PV system and sells clean electricity at a fixed price for the duration of the agreement.
Nick Boyle, ceo of Lighthouse Renewable Energy, said: "It goes without saying that energy prices are set to continue to rise in the coming years. Aside from the expense, if you are in heavy industry or the public sector, the unpredictability of fossil fuel electricity costs can make budgeting for the future virtually impossible. However, PPAs through Lightsource have now become a proven way to eliminate much of this uncertainty and cut energy costs."
Sarah Clover, account director at AmeyCespa East, added: "As a company which prides itself not only on innovation, but working closely with the communities in which we are based, AmeyCespa is delighted to be involved in this partnership to make use of a local source of renewable energy. Minimising out impact on the environment is at the heart of everything we do, and using solar energy to power one of our key facilities demonstrates our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint."