Southern Water’s first ever solar energy project at a wastewater treatment works went live this week, taking the number of solar panels owned by Southern Water to 15,179.

Senior leaders toured the site at Peel Common in Hampshire, to mark the latest step on Southern’s journey toward achieving net zero carbon emissions.

Stuart Ledger, Chief Financial Officer, was joined by members of the water company’s Commercial Energy Team, and from Engineering and Technical Solutions (ETS) who installed the panels on the roof of the largest building on the site.

Last year, the company announced the signing of a new eight-year framework with suppliers to develop solar energy infrastructure. The first phase involves 17,822 solar panels being installed across 12 different sites, totalling some 4.9 hectares.

Stuart Ledger said:

“This work is a fantastic example of succeeding together with teams across Southern Water and our supply chain to deliver a scheme which benefits our customers and the environment – and there’s so much more to come

“It’s so important we drive down our consumption of energy and generate our own power. This not only helps reduce our costs – which can help keep customer bills low – but it also helps protect the environment.”

Kirsten Abbott, Commercial Energy Manager, added:

“Installing renewable assets helps us towards our commitment to achieving net zero.

“Over the next few years we’ll roll out more solar on our operational sites which will give us more assets generating electricity where it’s needed.”