Manchester progresses plans to buy own solar farm

The UK city of Manchester is advancing its plans to buy its own solar farm to cut carbon emissions.

The council’s executive will be asked to give the green light for the council to enter into negotiations with companies developing solar photovoltaic facilities later this month.

Potential sites

There are already two potential options on the table – a 45.3W scheme in the south of England and two other schemes in the south which would give a combined 58MW – both options are of a scale which would meet the council’s requirements.

The council reports that no suitable sites of the size required (around 100 hectares) have been identified in Manchester or Greater Manchester. Further options could be considered as discussions move forward with other developers.

The Council’s Climate Change Action Plan 2020-25 sets out to halve its direct carbon emissions by 2025 in support of the city’s goal to become zero carbon by 2038. Under the plan a carbon reduction of 7,000 tonnes a year – equating to almost half of the total saving by 2025 – is being targeted through large scale renewable energy generation. Producing renewable energy directly would also improve energy security and give the council greater certainty over future costs.

“Owning our own solar farm would not only reduce our carbon emissions by thousands of tonnes a year, it also has the potential to reduce our energy costs over time and protect us from price rises in a volatile market

Any purchase of a solar farm would be funded through borrowing which would be financed over the life of the asset from the reduced expenditure with other energy providers, and potentially generation of surplus power which could then be sold.

The alternative option of power purchase agreements, which would involve the council purchasing renewable energy directly from a renewable energy source and also help the city meet carbon reduction targets, remains on the table as insurance should the solar farm option not prove feasible. The council reports, though, at this stage it is considered that purchasing a facility would offer greater benefits.