A 49.9MW solar farm, owned and operated by Cero Generation and Enso Energy, will be the first in the country to feed electricity directly into the transmission network.
European specialist Cero Generation together with its UK development partner Enso Energy will open the solar farm alongside a 49.5MW battery energy storage system, maximising the efficiency of the site and allowing a greater output of clean energy.
Located just outside of Bristol, in South Gloucestershire, this project will provide a clean, secure and cheaper power source for the local community and has a biodiversity net gain, providing shelter and food for a range of protected species.
The first-of-its-kind co-located solar and battery project, in Iron Acton, marks a significant step towards creating a secure, home-grown energy system for the UK and its 2035 decarbonisation targets.
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As the first to connect to the higher-voltage transmission network, the Larks Green solar farm will allow clean energy to be transported over greater distances across the country and open a gateway for larger projects to connect to the grid It will generate over 73,000MWh annually – enough to power 17,000 homes – and will displace 23,000 tons of CO2 each year compared to traditional energy production.
The project follows installation of new switchgear at the site by Cero and Enso in collaboration with National Grid, and the running of a high voltage cable between the substation and solar farm, which has enabled National Grid to successfully connect the 49.9MW Larks Green solar farm to its Iron Acton substation near Bristol.
Marta Martinez Queimadelos, chief executive of Cero Generation, said: “We’re proud to be celebrating a major step in the UK’s renewable energy mission and in our journey into battery storage, recognising the vast benefits of co-location in moving the green transition forward and contributing to our mission of delivering a net-zero future, for this and every generation. As the country’s first solar project to connect to the transmission network, it represents true innovation that paves the way for others to follow and enable the rapid deployment of much more clean energy.
“The Larks Green project is not only a significant milestone for Cero and an opportunity to initiate our BESS pipeline, but it represents a significant contribution to the UK’s goals to reach net-zero. I’m immensely proud of the dedication and collaboration of the Cero, Enso and National Grid teams in achieving this important milestone in the UK’s energy transition.”
Roisin Quinn, director of customer connections at National Grid, added: “Solar power has a critical role to play in the clean energy transition, so connecting the first PV array to our high voltage transmission network represents a key step on that journey, and a great achievement by Cero, Enso and our engineering teams.
“This net zero milestone comes as we’re investing in the biggest upgrade to the grid in a generation, enabling more home-grown renewable electricity to power the country than ever before. We want to connect more, and faster, and are working with government, Ofgem and industry to reform the connections process to accelerate Britain's transition to a cleaner, more secure and affordable energy system.”
Cero has 38 other standalone or co-located BESS projects in its UK pipeline within its partnership with Enso. The joint venture’s existing pipeline extends to 5GW, and a further 5GW of early-stage opportunities.
Connections to the grid are part of National Grid’s ongoing investment to upgrade, adapt and maintain its transmission network. Since 2018 it has spent around £5 billion on its infrastructure, and plans to spend £9 billion in the five years to 2026, with further multibillion-pound investments beyond that to 2030 to deliver an affordable, resilient and clean energy system.
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