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Thames Water will install Europe’s largest floating solar array on London’s Queen Elizabeth II reservoir, as part of plans to self-generate a third of its own energy by 2020.
The 6.3MW array is expected to generate 5.8 million kWh in its first year which will help power the nearby water treatment works, lowering customer bills.
Thames Water energy manager Angus Berry said: “Becoming a more sustainable business is integral to our long-term strategy and this innovative new project brings us one step closer to achieving our goal – this is the right thing for our customers, the right thing for our stakeholders and most importantly the right thing for the environment.”
As well as setting a target of generating 33 per cent of its own renewable energy by 2020, Thames Water is striving to become more efficient to reduce its reliance on the grid.
It generated a total of 12.5 per cent of its electricity requirements from renewable sources in 2014/15, which is a 4 per cent increase on the year before.
In 2015, the company pledged to support the objectives of the Paris climate change agreement to limit the global temperature rise to less than 2C. It said this project will contribute to achieving this goal.
Thames Water currently has solar panels on 41 of its sites.
United Utilities revealed plans last October to invest £3.5 million in a similar 3MW development. However the company, along with fellow water firms South West Water and Affinity Water, has warned that government cuts to the Feed-in Tariff could put “significant pressure” on its renewable energy investment plans. Read Utility Week’s analysis here.
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