RES secures new contract with Cero Generation and Enso Energy to provide solar asset management

Save to read list Published by Jessica Casey, Deputy Editor Energy Global, Tuesday, 06 June 2023 11:00

RES, the world's largest independent renewable energy company, has signed a new contract with Cero Generation, a leading European specialist in solar energy development, production, and storage, and Enso Energy, to provide asset management for the UK's first transmission-connected solar farm.

The contract will enable RES to manage Cero and Enso's Larks Green solar farm, a 49.9 MW project in South Gloucestershire that was fully energised in May 2023. The first-of-its-kind project has the capability of powering the equivalent of more than 17 300 homes while displacing 20 500 tpy of carbon dioxide compared to traditional energy production and will form part of Cero's 11 GW portfolio of utility scale and on-site generation projects across Europe.

The solar PV plant will be co-located with a 49.5 MW/99 MWh battery energy storage system which will also connect to the transmission network, using the same connection point as the solar farm, making it the UK's first co-located solar and battery storage project to feed electricity directly into the transmission system.

Further positive environmental impact will be delivered by the design and layout for the co-located solar farm and BESS, which will produce a net biodiversity gain, achieved through the provision of a range of resources for local wildlife, including additional woodland planting, that will provide shelter and food for a range of protected species.

As well as being awarded the full asset management agreement, comprising the technical, commercial and financial elements, RES will also provide grid code Balancing Mechanism services via its 24/7/365 Control Room located in Glasgow.

Darren Cook, Asset Management Director at RES, commented: "It's always exciting to work with a new client to develop a trusted partnership and forge ahead with a solar farm project that is contributing to the UK's net zero future. We are looking forward to working with Marta and the team at Cero Generation to utilise our suite of in-house expertise to provide full asset management now the site is operational."

Marta Sanchez Lopez, Portfolio Director at Cero Generation, added: "We are thrilled to have someone as highly regarded as RES on board to manage Larks Green solar farm. We have been impressed by their capabilities so far and look forward to the relationship progressing as the project evolves. It's an extremely exciting milestone for Cero and the UK's net zero transition, as connecting solar power directly to the transmission network allows clean energy to be transported over greater distances and reopens a gateway for larger projects to connect to the grid."

Ian Harding, Co-Founder and Director at Enso Energy, commented: "It is great to have developed the Lark's Green project from inception, through development, into construction and now into full operation, delivering clean, renewable energy to the UK. Having such a reputable asset management company like RES now join us to optimise the ongoing operation of the Lark's Green site, means that we can now concentrate on the development and build of the next sites in our portfolio. We look forward to working with RES at Lark's Green, and learning from RES's expertise in asset management as we deliver our next renewable connections and continue to actively help deliver net zero."

The Spring 2023 issue of Energy Global hosts an array of technical articles focusing on offshore wind, solar technology, energy storage, green hydrogen, waste-to-energy, and more. This issue also features a regional report on commodity challenges facing Asia's energy transition.

Read the article online at: https://www.energyglobal.com/solar/06062023/res-secures-new-contract-with-cero-generation-and-enso-energy-to-provide-solar-asset-management/

Ørsted is the world's first energy developer to commit to reuse or recycle all solar panels from its global portfolio of solar farms with immediate effect.

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