Low Carbon begins construction of 10MW Dorset Solar Park
In the latest expansion of its renewables portfolio, Low Carbon, the renewable energy investment company, has announced the completion of a deal to build a new solar park at Bottom Plain in Dorset, in collaboration with Macquarie Capital.
The solar park, which will consist of fixed ground-mounted solar PV panels, will have an output capacity of 10.1MW, with annual production being 9,732MWh – enough to power nearly 3,000 homes. The clean energy generated will save approximately 4,336 tonnes of carbon equivalent per annum.
Construction of the park began this month, and is expected to begin exporting electricity into the national grid in autumn 2014.
Macquarie Capital is providing construction funding to the project.
Low Carbon is investing in an international portfolio of renewable energy assets including utility-scale solar PV, onshore wind, concentrated solar power (CSP) and anaerobic digestion that will amount to a combined output of more than 2.3GW clean energy. To date, Low Carbon has funded more than 206MW of UK solar assets both in construction and operation, which represents approximately 12% of the UK solar market.
John Cole, Chief Investment Officer of Low Carbon, says: “Renewable energy technologies have demonstrated substantial performance improvements and cost reductions and are now being deployed at significant scale. Companies such as Low Carbon will continue to fight to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels and increase the scale of renewable energy to support a low carbon future. Now is the right time for investors to get behind renewable energy and address two of the biggest challenges facing the UK: energy security and climate change.”
“The International Energy Agency calculates that investment of $53 trillion is needed in energy infrastructure by 2035 to stand a chance of limiting climate change to the critical 2°C. There is an economic and environmental imperative to make significant private investment in renewable energy. That is what we are doing.”
Mark Dooley, Head of Development Capital at Macquarie, says: “Macquarie is delighted to be able to continue to support the Low Carbon team through provision of construction funding for their UK solar projects. Macquarie’s collaboration with Low Carbon demonstrates our commitment to supporting clients in the renewable energy sector.”
-ENDS-
About Low Carbon
Low Carbon is a privately owned investment company, committed to the development and operation of renewable energy power production. Low Carbon invests into both renewable energy developers and projects across a range of renewable energy technologies including solar, wind, anaerobic digestion and concentrated solar power. Low Carbon has a strong management team with a proven track record in development, construction, financing and management of UK solar assets, with over 200MW funded and in construction and operation today. Low Carbon remains involved in the projects for the long term. Low Carbon has a dedicated asset management team that currently manages assets on balance sheet and for third parties (unlisted and listed).
About Macquarie Group
Macquarie Group (Macquarie) is a leading provider of banking, financing, advisory, investment and fund management services. The Group has offices in all major financial centres. Founded in 1969, Macquarie employs more than 13,900 people in 28 countries. At 30 September 2013, Macquarie had assets under management of £222 billion.