Power generation is underway at Codford Solar Farm, the first newly-built PV project owned and operated by Centrica under the company’s plans to build out a 900MW portfolio of flexible energy assets.
Construction began at the site in Wiltshire, England, in April 2022, after consent was acquired by Centrica Business Solutions in 2021.
Made up of 33,000 panels, the project has a total capacity of 18MW and should produce 19GWh of green electricity every year, enough to power 4850 homes.
In late 2021, Centrica announced ambitions to deliver 900MW of low carbon assets by 2026.
The company is building battery storage projects at former gas peaking plants at Brigg, Lincolnshire, Knapton, North Yorkshire, and Ostend in Belgium, and has developed a multi GW pipeline of projects.
Vodafone will purchase half of the electricity output from the solar farm, helping to support its development and bringing additional renewable power provision to the UK Grid.
Combined with agreements already in place, around 47% of the company’s annual energy requirement will come from UK-based renewable power sources by 2025.
The long-term PPA will see approximately 9GWh of green electricity dedicated to Vodafone UK.
The remainder will be sold into the national grid through Centrica’s Energy Marketing & Trading business.