One of the UK’s largest solar farms, a 55 MW project located in Richmond, North Yorkshire, is now live, delivering renewable power to over 20,000 homes.
Developed by Atrato Onsite Energy, this solar farm costs £39.4 million and covers an expansive 166 acres (equivalent to roughly 93 football fields). It is the fourth largest in the UK. With more than 93,000 bifacial solar panels, the site is expected to reduce CO? emissions by 11,000 tonnes each year. As part of a three-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with energy provider OVO, the farm will supply 49 GWh of renewable energy annually, supporting OVO’s goal to achieve net zero by 2035.
As the largest commercial rooftop solar owner in the UK, Atrato Onsite Energy sees this project as its most ambitious installation to date. “From rooftop installations to record-breaking solar farms of this scale, driving forward solar projects is not only fundamental to reaching the UK government’s target of a clean electricity system by 2030 but a net zero economy entirely,” Atrato’s Managing Director, Gurpreet Gujral, emphasized.
The UK government has set an ambitious target to achieve a net zero electricity system by 2030, a goal that requires a threefold increase in solar power generation. Public support for renewable energy is growing, with around 64% of UK citizens supporting new green energy investments.
During the planning phase, the Yorkshire solar farm underwent a thorough ecology assessment, ensuring it meets biodiversity standards. Planned habitat improvements are expected to deliver a net biodiversity gain that exceeds the 10% minimum mandated by the Environment Act 2021.
This Yorkshire installation follows Atrato’s recent £28 million solar farm in Northamptonshire, which supplies 75% of the electricity needs for Britvic’s UK factories through a 10-year PPA.