Europe’s largest floating solar farm powers up
The size of eight football pitches, the solar array will power a water treatment plant on the outskirts of London.
On the Queen Elizabeth II reservoir near Heathrow airport, the solar panel array has been built to supply energy to a Thames Water treatment plant fed by the reservoir.
With a surface area of 57,000 m2 the solar array covers less than 10% of the reservoir.
Built from 23,046 solar panel modules, the array is expected to generate 5.8 million kilowatt hours in its first year, enough to power 1,800 homes.
Nick Boyle, CEO of Lightsource, the company which has built the array said that although constructing the array on water added to the logistical challenge of the project there were benefits as well “ The solar panels work optimally at low temperatures as does the wiring and the water acts to cool them, increasing their efficiency.”
The solar array will not connect to the National Grid but after testing is complete it will be attached to the private electrical grid at the water plant where it is expected to provide 20% of the plant’s electricity needs.
News
03 Apr, 2025
Brazil: Milagres named among top solar developers in 2024
Lightsource bp’s Milagres solar farms have been recognised as top-performing renewable energy projects in Brazil, ranking among the top 20 solar developers by e-Power Bay.
02 Apr, 2025
Lightsource bp contributes to the World Economic Forum’s conversation on responsible renewables deployment practices
Lightsource bp’s Penny Laurenson, Global Head of Sustainability, contributed to WEF’s conversation and thought leadership on responsible deployment practices.
19 Feb, 2025
10 Power Purchase Agreements signed and 1.3GW contracted in 2024
Lightsource bp achieved a significant milestone in 2024 by securing 10 power purchase agreements (PPAs) totalling 1.3GW across Europe, the Americas and APAC.
12 Feb, 2025
Lightsource bp enters Japan market with first renewable energy project
Lightsource bp, a global leader in renewable energy, has announced its entry into the Japanese market with the acquisition of a 15MWp solar project in Hokkaido.
29 Jan, 2025
Spain: Lightsource bp’s projects receive UNEF’s ‘Sustainability Excellence Certificate’
Lightsource bp’s utility scale projects Valle 3 and Valle 4 have been recognised with the prestigious UNEF ‘Sustainability Excellence Certificate’.
08 Jan, 2025
Portugal: Exus Renewables acquires Lightsource bp’s 130MWp Cibele Portuguese solar farm
Acquisition strengthens Exus’ growing European renewable energy portfolio, and rising position as a global independent power producer
15 Dec, 2024
Australia: Lightsource bp reaches major milestone on solar and battery projects to deliver firmed renewable energy solutions
Lightsource bp announces it is commencing construction on its Goulburn River hybrid project and its Woolooga Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
29 Oct, 2024
Wool quality and sustainability: Insights from Lightsource bp’s Wellington solar farm
Lightsource bp has seen promising results from the second round of wool testing at its Wellington solar farm, in New South Wales, Australia.
24 Oct, 2024
bp completes acquisition of Lightsource bp
bp has completed its acquisition of the remaining 50.03% interest in Lightsource bp.
17 Oct, 2024
Honeysuckle Solar: Recharging American Energy
Indiana reaps benefits of American-made energy investment as Lightsource bp’s Honeysuckle Solar goes online.