UPOWA accelerates Anglian Water towards net-zero with 14.4 MW ground mount solar programme.
Working in collaboration with Anglian Water, UPOWA developed and delivered 14.4 MW of ground mounted solar over 7 x operational sites across the East of England, all connected behind the meter.
The PPA backed solar delivery programme completed by UPOWA helped Anglian Water significantly reduce operational costs and carbon emissions, while ensuring energy price volatility is managed for the next 25 years.
By increasing on-site renewable energy generation by 10%, UPOWA enabled Anglian Water to take a step closer to becoming a carbon neutral water services business by 2030.
As one of the biggest energy users in the East of England, Anglian Water requires vast amounts of power to treat, recycle and pump water to its 6.4 million customers. With ambitious sustainability targets including a commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2030, Anglian Water set a target to source more than double the amount of power it generates from on-site renewable sources by 2025 to power 44% of its operations.
Project Overview
Following a competitive tender process, Anglian Water appointed UPOWA as its solar delivery partner its major Solar PPA Delivery Programme. Its aim, to push towards more on-site solar renewable generation across its operational sites.
At 30 MW it was one of the largest private-wire PPA transactions in the UK and one that would achieve huge carbon and energy savings for Anglian Water. UPOWA appointed Macquarie Principal Finance to create a private-wire Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to fund the solar installation.
This would enable Anglian Water to purchase the low cost, carbon-neutral electricity generated, with no capital expenditure for the next 25 years, powering their water treatment sites more sustainably.
The UPOWA Solution
Our team embarked on a programme of audits and feasibility studies to identify operational sites that would be suitable for a solar array. Viable sites had to have a suitable point of connection and meet land condition, performance, funding criteria and the client’s expectations. UPOWA managed the full project life cycle, from surveys, planning, design and DNO approval to PPA contract negotiations, supply, construction, testing and commissioning, and O&M.
In total, UPOWA completed the construction of 14.4 MW of commercial solar across 7 x operational sites, all connected behind the meter. The solar arrays ranged from 250 kWp to 12MW and included, pile driven ground mounted systems and ballasted installations on sites across the East of England.
As UPOWA commenced an 11.65MW solar scheme at Grafham Water, the programme’s final solar project, the coronavirus pandemic hit. This caused many challenges to the construction programme, including significant material shortages and supply chain issues. Through collaboration with Anglian Water and partners, UPOWA implemented mitigation measures to ensure the project was COVID secure during the lockdown. With reduced labour focusing on critical activities, UPOWA took a measured approach to increase production to normal levels within Government safety guidelines and site operating procedures, successfully connecting the solar array in line with the DNO deadline.
Completed in 26 weeks, the Grafham solar installation now generates annually 11 GWh of solar energy, enough clean electricity to power more than 3,000 homes every year. UPOWA installed 43,000 solar panels across 465 tables and 250 miles of cable which fed directly into the Grafham Water Treatment Works.
At 11.65MW and covering over 2 miles, it becomes one of the largest solar farms built in the UK Water Industry and the largest in Anglian Water’s solar portfolio. It now meets over 26% of Grafham Water’s energy consumption and reduces site carbon emissions by around 3,500 tonnes per year.
The success of the Anglian Water Solar PPA Delivery Programme completed by UPOWA demonstrates the vital role solar energy can play as the UK water industry targets Net-Zero Carbon.
“The solar array at Grafham is a great example of what can be delivered when working collaboratively with our supply chain. The fact that this has been constructed and commissioned through the challenges of COVID-19 makes the efforts of UPOWA alongside colleagues within Anglian Water and the Green Investment Group truly remarkable.”
“UPOWA has shown an incredible level of commitment to fund and install solar PV on our sites. Thanks to UPOWA, Anglian Water is now using solar power to reduce energy costs and carbon at its treatment works.”
Key project facts
14.69 GWh of annual on-site renewable generation
£600k annual business energy cost savings
10% increase in Anglian Water’s on-site renewable generation
Annual carbon savings - 4,560 Tonnes
What we installed
53,232 x solar panels
Solar arrays ranged from 250 kWp to 12MW
A Mix of pile driven ground mounted systems and ballasted solar installations
Ready to start your project?
Are you interested in finding out how UPOWA can accelerate your journey to net-zero? Contact our expert team today.