Britain’s first shared solar park to be constructed in Devon

Marking a new chapter in the green energy ownership movement, Britain’s first ever shared solar park is set to be built at Derrill Water Solar Park.

Ripple Energy, an independent organisation dedicated to helping people switch to renewable energy, have announced today that Derrill Water Solar Park in Devon will come the countries first shared site.

The project, developed by renewable energy company RES, will provide an alternative way solar parks – a large-scale solar photovoltaic array that is installed to generate renewable electricity – can be owned and run in Britain.  

From tomorrow, households across Britain will be able to buy and own part of the pioneering project located approximately 1.2km away from the village of Pyworthy, Devon.

The announcement comes as RES enters an agreement to sell its Derril water Solar Park to Ripple-managed co-operative. The solar park will be able to produce up to 42MW of clean energy, potentially generating sufficient energy for up to 14,000 homes across Britain.

On average, it is estimated that Derril Water will generate enough clean electricity to meet a home’s annual needs every 37 minutes, generating enough green electricity to save around 19,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.

Ripple is pencilling 10% of the ownership of Derril Water Solar Park exclusively for those in the surrounding area and is urging interested local households and businesses to come forward. Qualifying individuals in the local area will also be given two weeks of exclusive access to buy shares from the ring-fenced portion of the project.

Alongside this, the co-operative will also create a Community Benefit Fund which will provide £1,000/MW annually – expected to be worth up to £42,000 per year towards good causes in the local community.

Sarah Merrick, Founder and CEO of Ripple Energy, said: ‘By offering consumer ownership, Derril Water Solar Park will become a completely different kind of solar park, one owned by the people it supplies low cost green power to.

‘We want Derril Water to become a blueprint for consumer-owned solar parks around the world. We want to create a wave of green energy ownership that enables people to make a real climate impact, as well as stabilising their energy bills.

‘People from all corners of Britain will be able to co-own Derril Water Solar Park and we hope as many as possible will become part of this pioneering project.’

Image: Andreas Gücklhorn