UK adds 1.2 GW of solar in 2024
Provisional figures from UK government record 1.2 GW of capacity additions during calendar year, bringing total capacity to 17.6 GW in official figures. Acceleration in deployment needed to hit UK government’s 2030 clean generation target.
Sunswap expands production of PV-driven transport refrigeration units
Sunswap brings manufacturing in-house at headquarters in Leatherhead, near London, following a successful fundraising round. Offering solar and battery-powered refrigeration for transport, the UK business has international ambitions.
Public opinion matters to the success of solar planning
New research from the UK finds institutional actors have greatest influence over planning consent, however, public support also has a statistically significant impact. Improved public engagement from developers could bolster solar planning applications in England.
Low Carbon secures 10-year PPA in Canada
Power purchase agreement for 10 GWh per year signed for UK developer’s first solar project in Canada. Low Carbon’s 9 MW Lethbridge 1 providing electricity to Deep Sky Alpha site in Alberta.
UK planning reform targets solar development dead zone
UK government to increase solar capacity threshold for nationally significant infrastructure projects, handing local planners consent power for projects up to 100 MW. Projects with capacity greater than 50 MW in England are currently subject to approval from central government.
UK commits to hydrogen-to-power subsidy mechanism
The UK government announced a new business model for hydrogen, based on dispatchable power agreements available to carbon capture technologies.
UK records 1 GW of new solar in 12 months as pipeline swells
Government data records 17.2 GW of deployed solar capacity in the United Kingdom at the end of October 2024. Planning applications for three plants with combined capacity exceeding 1.8 GW submitted in November 2024, suggesting potential for greater additions in the future.
UK capacity additions slow but major project pipeline grows
Government data records 17.1 GW of deployed solar capacity in the United Kingdom at the end of September 2024. New domestic installations are down on the same period in 2023, however, a growing pipeline of major projects with planning consent points to significant capacity gains in the future.
UK’s largest PPA to date signed for 373 MW solar park
Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners announces two long-term agreements covering 100% of solar power generation at Cleve Hill Solar Park. British supermarket retailer Tesco has signed a 15-year agreement covering 65% of generation and Shell will manage remaining capacity under 10-year route-to-market deal.
Planning consent granted for 600 MW solar project, largest to date in the UK
Cottam Solar Project secures approval through national infrastructure consent process. The 600 MW solar and storage development is the fourth major solar project to secure UK government approval in a three-month period.
