Approval for UK’s largest floating solar energy project

The energy is intended for use by the advanced manufacturing sector.

The Port of Barrow project has been approved by Westmorland & Furness Council’s Strategic Planning Committee.

The approval will see installation of a floating solar array of up to 40MWp on Cavendish Dock, Cumbria, UK.

It is anticipated to generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of around 14,000 homes each year, reveals the Associated British Ports for The Barrow EnergyDock project.

The project aims to help control electricity costs at the port, reduce carbon emissions and improve energy resilience for local industry.

The solar panels will be mounted on floating pontoons fixed at an ‘optimum angle’ for solar generation, secured to the dock bed by an anchoring system.

The proposed array would cover around one-third of the dock’s water area and comprise approximately 47,000 panels.