Voltalia has commissioned the South Farm solar project based near the village of Spetisbury in Dorset.
The company signed a 15-year corporate power purchase agreement in 2020 with City of London Corporation to buy all the power from the 49.9MW project.
The deal, which was the first of its kind in the UK to be signed directly between a renewables producer and a public governing authority, will help City of London Corporation provide cheap and sustainable electricity supply protected from the price volatility of energy markets.
It will cover over half the City Corporation’s electricity needs, powering buildings including its historic Guildhall, three wholesale markets and the Barbican Arts Centre.
“The completion of South Farm is a great achievement. I would like to warmly thank all the Voltalia teams and our local British suppliers and subcontractors, who have been working together on this project. In the current energy crisis, we are very proud to supply clean and cheap electricity to some of London’s most iconic landmarks,” said Sébastien Clerc, CEO of Voltalia.
“With this 15-year contract we are actively supporting the City of London Corporation in mitigating its energy budget volatility and reaching its net carbon zero target by 2027.”
Keith Bottomley, Chairman of the City Corporation’s Environment Committee, added: “This scheme is a pioneering blueprint by the City Corporation for local authorities across the UK, cutting carbon emissions and giving cheaper, more secure energy, protected from the price volatility of energy markets.
“The deal will increase our green energy supply, has no reliance on taxpayer funding, and helps us transition quickly away from fossil fuels.”