A vast floating ‘solar array’ to help power London City Airport remains an “aspiration”, local authorities have said.
The floating mass of solar panels would be placed close to the airport in the neighbouring Royal Docks - a stone’s throw from City Hall.
Green energy developer Renewable Connections was in 2021 awarded £40,000 by the mayor to produce a design and complete a proof of concept test for the project.
The scheme’s progress was recently asked about in a written question by Green London assembly member Zack Polanski, who is deputy leader of the party nationally.
Writing in response, Mr Khan’s team said Renewable Connections had already “completed connection designs with UK Power Networks Services, a glint and glare test, assessment of the solar raft, and tested the proof of concept on the water; demonstrating that renewable energy could be produced for the Royal Docks through a full-scale floating solar PV array”.
They added: “The data and evidence from this proof of concept is feeding into the Royal Docks’ waterway management strategy, currently in development.”
Scott Derben, managing director of the Royal Docks Management Authority, said that although the scheme is currently unfunded - as the organisation is working on higher priority projects - it remains on their “aspiration list”.
He confirmed that the authority’s waterway management strategy, due to be published later this year, will include a mention of the project.
Stuart Dossett, senior policy adviser at the think tank Green Alliance, suggested the scheme could play a part in helping Britain meet its climate targets.
"The more solar energy powers London, the cheaper our bills will be and the sooner we'll meet our net zero targets,” he said.
“The Docklands were a key part of the UK’s first industrial revolution – the next one will be driven by clean technologies like this and the high-quality jobs they can support."
At the time of the 2021 funding being announced, City Hall said: “Projects like this can make a real contribution to tackling the climate emergency and will highlight London as a global leader in sustainable economic development.”
Alison FitzGerald, the airport’s chief operating officer, also said at the time: “With the ability to supply up to 40 per cent of the airport’s electricity via solar generation, this has the potential to be a significant staging post in the airport’s journey towards net zero emissions.”
Similar schemes have been undertaken before. In 2016, Thames Water built a large floating solar installation at the Queen Elizabeth II reservoir - just outside London in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey - which at the time it was built was the world’s biggest floating farm.
