The National Grid linked the new 50MW Larks Green solar farm from Enso Energy (Enso) and Cero Generation (Cero) to its Iron Acton substation near Bristol, bringing the first photovoltaic (PV) solar array in the UK online.
This comes after Cero and Enso, working with National Grid, installed new switchgear at the location and ran a high-voltage cables between the solar farm and the substation, enabling National Grid to effectively link their 49.9MW Larks Green solar energy farms to the Iron Acton substation close to Bristol.The solar farm has 152,400 solar panels installed on a 200-acre site close to the 400kV Iron Acton substation of National Grid.
In comparison to conventional energy generation, it will produce over 73,000MWh yearly, or the equivalent of the energy needs of over 17,300 households, and will eliminate 20,500 tons of CO2. As a result, consumers will have access to a clean, safe, and less expensive power source.
In addition to the solar farm, a 49.5MW/99MWh battery-powered energy storage system (BESS) will be installed nearby. The BESS will balance intermittent energy production by conserving energy amid peak generation times and exporting it back to the grid when demand is high. This will also maximize the site’s efficiency and enable a bigger output of clean energy.
Up until this point, all of the solar farms in the UK were linked to the nation’s distribution networks, which are the lower-voltage regional grids that deliver electricity via the high-voltage transmission networks to residences and commercial buildings. An important stage in the shift to renewable energy is the direct integration of solar electricity into the transmission network of National Grid. This will enable clean energy to go farther and pave the path for the grid integration of bigger projects.
The announcement represents a step toward Britain’s goal of having a 100% carbon-free energy system by 2035. In its latest Powering up Britain report, the government reiterated its goal of installing up to 70 GW of solar energy by 2035, which would be sufficient to power about 20 million homes, a five-fold increase in solar deployment.
The location and design of the BESS and co-located solar farm will result in a net increase in biodiversity. This will be accomplished by providing a variety of necessities for local wildlife, such as more woodland plantings that will serve as a haven and a source of food for a number of protected species.
The first PV array being connected to our high-voltage dissemination network is a significant step in the clean energy transition and a fantastic accomplishment by Cero, Enso, and our engineering teams, according to Roisin Quinn, Director of Customer Relationships at National Grid.The net zero milestone occurs as we invest in the largest grid upgrade in a generation, allowing for more domestically produced renewable electricity in the UK.
According to Cero Generation CEO Marta Martinez Queimadelos, “We’re delighted to be celebrating an important milestone in the UK’s renewable energy goal and in our progress into battery storage, recognizing the enormous advantages of co-location in advancing the green transition ahead and supporting our goal to accomplish a net-zero emissions future, for this and all future generations.” It represents true innovation because it is the first solar project in the nation to be linked to the transmission network, paving the way for many to follow and enabling the quick deployment of much more renewable energy. In addition to being a huge accomplishment for Cero and a chance to launch our BESS pipeline, the Larks Green project makes an essential contribution to the UK’s efforts to achieve net-zero.
Enso Energy’s co-founder and director, Ian Harding, stated: “All of the Enso, Cero, and National Grid teams engaged put a lot of effort into getting the solar farm at Larks Green connected. The completion of this project marks a significant turning point for energy from renewable sources in the UK and offers additional proof that co-located photovoltaic and battery storage initiatives directly connected to the transmission network are going to be crucial to achieving the UK’s net zero goals. Now that this aim has been set, we are looking forward to collaborating alongside Cero and National Grid to carry out the next wave of renewable energy initiatives for the UK portfolio.
38 further independent or co-located BESS projects are in the works for Cero in the UK.
The grid connections are a part of National Grid’s ongoing efforts to maintain, modernize, and upgrade its transmission network. It has invested about £5 billion in infrastructure since 2018, and it aims to spend £9 billion over the next five years to 2026, in addition to the multibillion-dollar investments made after that until 2030 to provide a cost-effective, dependable, sustainable energy system.
In order to quickly speed up connections to the electrical transmission network, National Grid is collaborating with ESO and industry to implement a number of initiatives, such as a connections amnesty, fresh arrangements for managing the connections pipelines, and a new two-phase offer process.