A new co-development partnership in the UK aims to realize 250 MW of large-scale solar and battery energy storage assets over the next 3 years. Solar Developer Hive Energy, EPC service provider Ethical Power and Public Power Solutions (PPS) form the trio that have announced the partnership.

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Swindon Borough Council, PPS will be in charge of project development, while the remaining 2 partners will bring their experience in project construction, and long-term facility management to operate the same.

The initial project the partnership aims to pick up is a 45 MW co-located solar and battery storage facility in South Oxfordshire’s Burcot Farm. Planning permission will be sought in early 2022, stated PPS that provides energy and waste management services.

In March 2021, PPS launched a virtual public consultation for a subsidy free solar farm of up to 49.9 MW and a 49.9 MW battery storage system.

Hive-Ethical Project Developments’ Director Stuart Whiteford explained that the partnership will provide a ‘cradle-to-grave service, with a strong focus on early community engagement’ to ensure projects that can be effectively maintained, operated and restored with minimal impact on the environment.

Hive Energy owns a 50% stake in Ethical Power. In 2021, the duo along with Solar South West announced a joint venture to develop 350 MW solar in New Zealand (see Solar PV Joint Venture Launched For New Zealand).

UK’s solar market is getting interesting again among others as the technology secured a much-awaited place in the country’s 4^th allocation round under Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme through which the government targets to contract 12 GW renewable energy capacity (see UK Launches 12 GW Renewable Energy Tender).