Centrica set for solar boost with acquisition of two South West projects

By Nicky Godding

26 March 2024

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Centrica has bought two clean energy projects, adding 32MW of capacity to the company’s power portfolio.

In Dorset, the Windsor-based business has acquired development rights for the construction of a 16MW solar farm and 3MW battery storage plant near Winterborne Whitechurch.

The project will break ground in early 2024, with the first power exported to the grid in 2025.

The site at Winterborne Whitechurch will be a co-located asset, with the solar farm and battery storage facilities using the same connection point to the grid, helping to maximise the grid connection.

The site will be able to power 4,600 homes a year, supported by the battery that can deliver two-hours of energy for a similar number of properties.

In addition, the business has also acquired the operational Roundponds Solar Farm in Wiltshire. The 13MW solar farm was commissioned in 2015 and is capable of providing energy for around 3,200 homes every year.

These investments are part of Centrica’s plans to invest up to £4 billion by 2028 in renewable generation, security of supply and its customers.

Greg McKenna, managing director of Centrica Business Solutions, said: “Solar will play an increasingly important role in the UK as we strive for a net zero energy system. We’re proud to be leading the charge in delivering a bank of assets across the UK that will help meet the need for clean energy generation and storage.”

Sue Peart, commercial director of Centrica Energy Assets, added: “As the UK strives towards net zero, on-shore renewable power generation will play an essential role in delivering a secure supply of energy to homes and businesses.

“The recent grid reforms announced by Ofgem are welcome news, but to unlock the full potential of renewable energy, we need to go further. This year will be pivotal for the energy industry - boosting capacity and prioritising the transmission network will be central to creating a grid fit for the future, and one that can manage the transition to net zero.”

The Winterborne and Roundponds projects will contribute towards Centrica’s long-term plan to deliver a portfolio of green energy transition assets and follow the construction of an 18MW solar farm at Codford, Wiltshire which was commissioned in 2023. In addition, we are delivering a 50MW battery storage project in Brigg, Lincolnshire and a 20MW hydrogen-ready gas-fired peaking plant in Worcestershire, both of which are nearing completion.

By Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe.

After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts.

She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.