The UK approves its largest solar project in the north-east of the country

The UK approves Cottam's 600 MW solar project, including battery storage, signalling a step forward in its energy strategy.

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The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) grants approval for the 600 MW Cottam solar project developed by Island Green Power.
Located on former Cottam coal-fired power station infrastructure, the project is the largest of its kind in the UK to date.
Its strategic location between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire means that existing network connections can be reused, optimizing costs and deployment.
This approval is part of a series of recent measures by the UK government to boost its renewable energy generation capacity.
In July, three further solar farms with a combined capacity of 1.35 GW were given the go-ahead.
These developments illustrate the government’s determination to significantly increase the share of solar power in the national energy mix, through the reallocation of disused industrial land.

Energy storage and grid flexibility

Cottam’s project is not limited to solar power generation.
It also includes a 600 MW battery storage system, designed to stabilize supply and enhance the resilience of the power grid.
Energy storage is becoming an essential component in the integration of renewable energies, offering a solution to the challenges posed by the intermittency of solar and wind power sources.
This development follows a global trend where renewable energy projects increasingly include storage capabilities to maximize efficiency and profitability.
With this approach, the UK seeks to minimize the risks associated with the variability of solar generation and ensure a more stable and predictable energy supply.

Price trends and competitiveness of solar modules

The project’s approval comes against a backdrop of falling solar module costs in Europe.
According to S&P Global Commodity Insights, module prices delivered in Europe are valued at 0.12 EUR/W for volumes ranging from 5 MW to 50 MW, a significant reduction since July.
This downward trend, reinforced by falling transport costs, is encouraging the development of large-scale solar projects such as the Cottam project.
These economic conditions are creating a favorable environment for solar expansion in the UK, encouraging investment and supporting the competitiveness of domestic projects against European markets.
This situation could also prompt other developers to step up their solar energy and storage projects in the UK.

Solar energy development supported by energy policies

Government support, illustrated by the Cottam project and other recent initiatives, reflects a policy geared towards increasing solar capacity.
In the sixth round of Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions, 3.3 GW of solar projects were awarded, including EDF Renewables’ 500 MW Longfield project.
The support framework established by these CfDs provides crucial revenue predictability for renewable energy developers.
These policies aim to make solar more competitive, notably by integrating storage elements for efficient management of the energy produced.
Projects like Cottam’s demonstrate how business and government are working together to meet energy and energy security objectives.

Statkraft France won a 15.5 MWc solar project in Mourmelon-le-Grand during the latest national tender round, bringing its total awarded capacity to nearly 70 MWc in less than a year.
Solar growth in Central Europe has doubled that of the European Union since 2019, reshaping the energy mix and boosting battery manufacturing in the region.
Canadian energy producer Cordelio Power has completed commissioning of its Winfield solar project, a 150 MW facility backed by a 15-year contract with Microsoft and a $313mn structured financing deal.
Platform Anza surpassed its 2024 volume in just eight months, responding to developers’ urgency to secure projects ahead of regulatory and fiscal changes expected in 2026.
US-based AGCO has signed a ten-year virtual power purchase agreement with BRUC, covering a 100 MW solar project in Spain, to secure part of its European energy consumption.
Canadian developer Innergex has won all six projects of the Grenier des Essences portfolio for a total of 85 MW, strengthening its position in France’s ground-mounted solar sector.
Canadian Solar unveils its new low-carbon solar modules integrating heterojunction cells and thinner wafers, achieving up to 24.4% efficiency and a peak power output of 660 Wp.
Elmya Energy and Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure have created a joint venture targeting 4 GW of renewable energy projects in the United States, focused on the ERCOT and WECC markets.
Louth Callan has completed the Mousam River solar project in Sanford, marking a key milestone in the deployment of utility-scale energy infrastructure across the United States.
The state regulator has approved five new solar power purchase agreements to support growing demand under the CARES programme, targeting industrial and commercial clients.
With the commissioning of the El Carrizo plant, Ecoener surpasses 500 MW in installed capacity and becomes the most active Spanish investor in Guatemala’s energy sector.
Aspen Power has finalised the acquisition of two community solar projects totalling over 1 MWdc in New Jersey, developed by Ecogy Energy, with construction expected to begin shortly.
French developer Tenergie has started work on a ground-mounted solar plant at a former quarry, with expected annual output of 7.6 GWh from 2026.
Octopus Energy strengthens its presence in Spain with three new energy projects totalling 600 MW, powering 2.3 million households and accelerating the expansion of its European renewables portfolio.
VSB Italy has obtained authorisation to build a 6.2 MW agrivoltaic plant in Città della Pieve, combining solar power generation and agricultural cultivation on 10.6 hectares.
Ameren Missouri announces a 250 MW solar project to power 44,000 homes, reducing delays and costs through strategic development on company-owned land.
Verso Energy has inaugurated an experimental solar power plant in Outarville, testing the integration of photovoltaic panels across three hectares of large-scale crops with a 90% self-consumption rate.
Independent power producer R.Power is selling a 440MW ready-to-build photovoltaic portfolio in Poland, as political uncertainties drive a wave of divestments in the national renewable energy market.
Grenergy has finalised the sale of the fourth phase of its hybrid solar-storage project in Chile to CVC DIF, valued at up to $475mn, while retaining operation and maintenance for five years.
Q ENERGY secures financing for 252 MW of solar projects in Spain, marking its first independent power producer operation on the Iberian Peninsula.

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