Lightsource bp is pleased to announce the UK’s first solar-powered waste treatment plant near the village of Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire.
Lightsource Renewable Energy Limited, the UK’s leading utility scale solar plant developer, owner and asset operator have, together with Solarcentury, the UK’s most experienced solar photovoltaic (PV) installer, completed a 5MW utility scale solar plant close to the village of Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire.
The solar plant will provide enough ‘green’ energy during daylight hours to power over 70% of AmeyCespa’s Mechanical Biological Treatment plant in Waterbeach, providing a sustainable, local energy solution.
Located at the hamlet of Chittering, this 20,000 panel solar park is built in a discreet location and is not visible from the main road. The plant will generate up to 4,552MWh annually, an optimum level achieved with a significantly experienced engineering team and use of only the highest quality materials. This is sufficient energy to power the equivalent of over 1,200 homes continuously without any noise or pollution.
Frans van den Heuvel, CEO of Solarcentury said: “We are all incredibly excited about this project. Rather than the plant being connected to export into the grid, there has been significant engineering work to provide 3km of cabling from the plant running directly to local waste management company AmeyCespa.”
He added: “Unlike most utility scale ground mounted solar plants in the country, this solar plant prioritises the use of electricity by AmeyCespa’s facilities first, with minimal excess energy being fed back into the national grid. We expect to see many more commercial projects of this nature in the future as organisations become increasingly aware of fixed, low cost solar power.”
Lightsource supplies this ‘green’ energy to the waste management company through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for 25 years *. This method of energy supply significantly benefits high electricity users like AmeyCespa, not only by cutting electricity costs, but also providing better control and predictability on budget forecasting.
In parallel with large-scale solar projects like the one Frans van den Heuvel describes, waste management companies can further enhance their sustainability efforts through strategic waste management skip bins hire. By integrating skip bins into their waste management infrastructure, companies can optimize their waste collection and disposal processes, ensuring efficient handling of various waste streams.
These skip bins serve as pivotal tools in segregating different types of waste, including recyclables, non-recyclables, and hazardous materials, aligning with AmeyCespa’s commitment to responsible waste management practices. Through partnerships with providers offering tailored solutions like Rochdale Skip Hire, waste management companies can streamline their operations, minimizing environmental impact while maximizing resource recovery.
In the realm of waste management, the need for efficient and eco-friendly solutions remains paramount. Just as skip bins revolutionize waste collection processes, specialized junk removal services offered by https://junk-removal-phoenix.com/ play a crucial role in promoting sustainability. With their expertise in handling and disposing of unwanted items responsibly, these professionals contribute to reducing landfill waste and minimizing environmental footprint. As the importance of environmental stewardship becomes increasingly apparent, these initiatives pave the way for a cleaner and healthier planet for generations to come.
Nick Boyle, CEO of Lightsource Renewable Energy said:
“It goes without saying that energy prices are set to continue to rise in the coming years. According to current UK Power Index estimates from DECC, we are set to experience a 5-8% increase per annum from conventional suppliers. Aside from the expense, if you are in heavy industry or the public sector, the unpredictability of fossil fuel electricity costs can make budgeting and planning for the future virtually impossible. However, PPAs through Lightsource have now become a proven way to eliminate much of this uncertainty and cut energy costs.”
Nick Boyle continued: “Our PPAs are proving attractive because they provide much needed pricing certainty coupled with a significant reduction in electricity bills. As we own our plants, we specify only premium equipment and maintain it to the highest possible standards. This ensures optimum output and supply to our clients. We create a high quality, appropriate and hassle free solar solution for any business or property owner. Our newly completed plant here at Chittering is a prime example of how Lightsource can develop solar solutions that work for the local community.”
Sarah Clover, Account Director for AmeyCespa East, said: “As a company which provides itself not only on innovation, but working closely with the communities in which we are based, AmeyCespa is delighted to be involved in this partnership to make use of a local source of renewable energy. Minimising our impact on the environment is at the heart of everything we do, and using solar energy to power one of our key facilities demonstrates our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint.”
Related news and insights
05 Jul, 2024
Sharing knowledge and charting the path for the future of solar – Lightsource bp Q2 2024 events wrap up
Lightsource bp’s teams have been on the road throughout the second quarter of 2024, take a look at what they've been up too.
03 Jul, 2024
Zosia Riesner discusses Lightsource bp’s partnerships and shares power market insights on NPM Europe’s podcast
Zosia Riesner, Lightsource bp Director of Power Markets for Europe, appeared on the Interconnections podcast to share insights on the continent’s power market.
28 Jun, 2024
Lightsource bp global legal team ‘Highly Commended’ at The Lawyer Awards 2024
Lightsource bp’s global legal team was highly commended for ‘In-house commerce and industry team of the year’ at The Lawyer Awards 2024.
28 Jun, 2024
How artificial intelligence (AI) is helping Lightsource bp enhance its operations
We are increasingly using AI to help us work smarter and find solutions to overcome significant challenges.
25 Jun, 2024
Netherlands: Championing sustainable energy, biodiversity and agrivoltaics in partnership with the British Embassy
Lightsource bp Netherlands partnered with the British Embassy to celebrate King Charles III's Birthday, while promoting the benefits of agrivoltaics.
21 Jun, 2024
European Solar Day: Celebrating the solar opportunity
The longest day of 2024 in the Northern Hemisphere is 21 June, it also marks European Solar Day, an annual celebration marking the power and potential of the sun.
20 Jun, 2024
Lightsource bp publishes 2023 Sustainability Report
Lightsource bp, a global leader in solar development, is pleased to publish its 2023 Sustainability Report.
07 Jun, 2024
Spain: Agrivoltaics workshop held in partnership with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy
Lightsource bp is ramping up its capabilities to deliver important agrivoltaics projects to support sustainable farming businesses.
24 May, 2024
Spain: Collaboration on research project to study Lesser Kestrel habitats
Lightsource bp collaborates with CSIC on research project to study Lesser Kestrel habitat use in Spain.
16 May, 2024
Raising the bar for agriculture and solar
In the heart of central France, Lightsource bp is working with a local cattle farmer to develop plans for a new form of agrivoltaic project.