'First of its kind' solar farm in Dorset to power the City of London
South Farm Solar Park near Blandford is projected to save £3 million
Tower Bridge, Guild Hall and the City of London's financial centre will all be powered by a solar farm in Spetisbury, Dorset.
South Farm Solar Park is the first of its kind in the UK to be signed directly between a renewable’s producer and governing authority.
The 15-year, £40 million contract between the City of London Corporation and Voltalia is projected to save the governing authority £3 million over the project’s lifetime.
Simon Holt, UK Country Manager for Voltalia, said: “As the price of electricity is steadily increasing, it has become a tipping point where organisations are starting to come to us and say, ‘we'd like the power that your project can produce for us’.
“More and more organisations are moving their businesses to comply with the principles of a net zero emissions future.”
The City of London aims to be net-zero, from their own direct emissions, by 2027. This project underlines their commitment to ‘reducing their carbon footprint’.
Almost 50 megawatts - enough to power 15,000 homes - will be generated from the site.
“Climate change needs projects, not promises,” Mr Holt said: “The solar irradiance is very good here, being in the south of the country, and of course a customer like the City of London Corporation will find it very difficult to find space for a solar farm in their vicinity.”
Mr Holt added: “It's not insignificant the amount of local economic stimulation projects like this can bring.”
Voltalia said it had invested a million pounds within 25 miles of South Farm Solar Park, including with traders and suppliers in the region.
The renewable’s producer has a 100% success rate gaining planning permission “following strong engagement with communities,” they say.
Simon Holt added: “We've had a really positive experience with the local community,” but other reports suggest that the solar farm are ruining the “beautiful landscape.”