HBS New Energies (HBS) and Macquarie’s Green Investment Group (GIG) have announced the successful connection and completion of the 11.65MW Grafham Water Solar Scheme for Anglian Water.

The groundbreaking project developed by HBS under Anglian Water’s Solar Delivery Programme is a major milestone for the water utility as it presses ahead with its ambitious plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

At 11.65MW and covering over 2 miles, the scheme is one of the largest solar farms built in the UK water industry and the largest in Anglian Water’s solar portfolio. Funded by a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) structured by GIG, the onsite renewable energy source will meet over 26% of Grafham Water’s energy consumption and reduce site carbon emissions by around 3,500 tonnes per year.

Grafham Water Treatment Works (WTW) uses approximately 45 million kilowatt-hours of energy a year to supply clean water across the region to hundreds of thousands of customers. The zero-carbon electricity generated by the solar panels will help power essential water treatment operations through a private wire connection.

Jason Tucker, Director of Strategic Delivery and Commercial Assurance for Anglian Water, commented:

“Our ambition to power our operational sites through renewable energy is a vital part of our journey to reach net zero carbon by 2030. The scale of our challenge is significant and the solar array at Grafham is a great example of what can be delivered when working collaboratively with our supply chain. The fact that this has been constructed and commissioned through the challenges of COVID-19 makes the efforts of HBS New Energies alongside colleagues within Anglian Water and the Green Investment Group truly remarkable.”

Edward Northam, Head of GIG Europe, said:

“We are proud to be supporting Anglian Water in its ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030. This project, delivered by HBS, is a great milestone on the way towards this goal. Grafham is also the largest project in our Commercial and Industrial (C&I) PPA portfolio and, by delivering this utility scale project in the current challenging environment, demonstrates that GIG is now a major player in the solar C&I market.”

Completed in 26 weeks, the Grafham solar installation will generate 11 GWh of solar energy, enough electricity to power more than 3,000 homes every year. HBS installed nearly 43,000 solar panels across 465 tables and 250 miles of cable which will feed into the Grafham Water Treatment Works.

Acting as a solar developer, HBS managed all stages of the project from sourcing funding, design, and project management right through to EPC. Contracted works include surveying, planning, DNO approval, construction, system testing, commissioning, and ongoing O&M services.

HBS has built a long-standing relationship with Anglian Water, boosting onsite solar generation at operational sites across the East of England.

Since the Solar Delivery Programme commenced in 2018, HBS has completed a further six solar arrays, including schemes at the Shenfield and Jaywick Water Recycling Centres.