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.

US-based solar developer Ampliform secured a loan facility of up to $165mn to support large-scale energy projects in key regional markets, with a focus on the PJM grid.
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Chanel has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with REDEN to supply nearly one-third of its electricity needs in France from two photovoltaic plants commissioned in 2025.
i Grid Solutions and Tokyu Land will develop an additional 200MW of on-site solar under power purchase agreements by 2029 through their joint venture TLC VPP, with an investment exceeding JPY20bn ($133mn).
US-based developer Janta Power secures funding to expand its vertical photovoltaic towers across data centres, airports, charging stations and critical infrastructure.
The global floating solar panel market could triple by 2030, supported by energy demand and favourable regulations, according to the latest double-digit annual growth forecasts.
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Recurrent Energy, a subsidiary of Canadian Solar, secured $825mn to develop a 150 MWac solar plant and a 600 MWh storage site in Maricopa County, in partnership with Arizona Public Service.
Canadian firm Stardust Solar grants its first African franchise to Megatricity Energy in Zambia, launching a new phase of expansion into emerging solar energy markets.
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Ampyr Solar Europe has connected a 45MWp solar cluster to the grid, made up of three sites spanning 40 hectares in Germany, supplying electricity to 13,000 households.
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i Grid Solutions and CPower have partnered to accelerate the deployment of solar plants through on-site power purchase agreements, targeting 30MW of installed capacity by 2028.
PowerBank has signed a lease for a 1.76 MW ground-mounted solar project in upstate New York, aiming to power around 200 homes through a community-based programme.
AXIAN Energy has acquired a majority stake in the Bangweulu solar plant in Zambia, strengthening its pan-African solar strategy while entering a rapidly growing energy market.
Sun Trinity has commissioned a 3.1 MW solar carport in Nara, bringing its on-site PPA capacity with Aeon Mall to 10.1 MW under a nationwide rollout plan across twelve commercial sites.
A joint programme funded with CHF15.12mn ($19mn) aims to boost energy efficiency and renewables in Alpine regions by 2029.
Aurora Renewables will develop an intelligent microgrid combining solar, batteries and digital simulation technology to enhance power supply in northern Saskatchewan.
Norwegian firm Scatec expands its presence in West Africa with two solar projects totalling 64 MW and a 10 MWh storage system, under lease agreements signed in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The New South Wales Government has approved Ark Energy’s hybrid solar and battery project in Richmond Valley, combining a solar power plant and long-duration storage.

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