West Sussex County Council has launched its second solar farm which features battery storage technology. The Westhampnett solar project near Chichester is expected to generate enough electricity to power around 2,400 homes a year. The battery is used to store surplus electricity which can be released to the grid when consumer demand is high. It follows the launch of the Tangmere solar farm in 2015, which already produces power for 1,500 homes a year. The council has also installed solar panels on its buildings, including offices, schools and fire stations.
Energy Live News 23rd Oct 2018 read more »
UK’s second subsidy-free solar farm completed by West Sussex Council using battery storage. The Westhampnett project combines 7.4MW of solar, comprised of panels from Hanwha Q Cells, with a 4.4MW/4.06MWh battery storage unit from Tesvolt on a closed 35 acre landfill site close to a local grid connection and owned by the council, offering low land costs for the project.
Solar Power Portal 25th Oct 2018 read more »
Repayment of a £23 million loan owed to Peterborough City Council for the installation of solar panels has been delayed again as the authority waits on a new lender to step in. The council has granted a two month extension to Empower Community Management LLP and housing associations inside and outside of the city for the loan to be repaid in full after being satisfied that a new investor has nearly signed on. The loan was due to be repaid in full at the start of October 2017, but extensions have been granted since. It is now expected to be repaid next month once the new investor is in place. The loan is linked to a pioneering scheme announced nearly four years ago to put solar panels on residents’ homes. The project came to an end in 2016 after the Government announced it was slashing solar panel tariffs, but the council believes it will still make £1.25 million from the scheme, with residents who received the panels benefiting by roughly £200 each year.
Peterborough Today 26th Oct 2018 read more »