Solar farm for Kent County Council to reduce emissions

A new 94 acre solar farm in North Somerset has been acquired by Kent County Council and LASER Energy, reducing carbon emissions and saving energy costs for the council.

The Bowerhouse II Solar Farm, which has recently been built by Ethical Power Ltd, has the capacity to have 39,312 solar panels and will provide 22,000 megawatt hours of green electricity to the grid a year.

LASER Energy managed the acquisition on Kent County Council’s behalf, using £14.415 million from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. Ethical Power Ltd has been appointed to run the operations and maintenance contract for the solar farm, whilst LASER Energy will continue to be responsible for the ongoing running of the facility, including managing contractors, energy trading, monetary flows and carbon management and reporting.

Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) certificates will show that the purchase contributes to about 30 per cent of Kent County Council’s net zero carbon reduction target.

Susan Carey, cabinet member for Environment, said: “This new solar farm will reduce our carbon footprint by 30 per cent and make significant savings on our electricity costs for years to come.”

LASER Energy was established by Kent County Council in 1989 with a vision to help the public sector achieve the energy cost reductions made possible by newly deregulated gas and electricity markets.