Jonny ManningNorth East and Cumbria
ABPA floating solar farm described as the UK’s largest is to be built in the north of England after planning permission was approved.
The 46,500-panel array will be installed at the Port of Barrow’s Cavendish Dock in Cumbria and will be capable of producing enough energy to power 14,000 homes a year.
It will be built by Associated British Ports (ABP) and will be used to power the area’s advanced manufacturing sector, including submarine-maker BAE Systems.
The company’s divisional port manager Bryan Davies said the solar farm would “drive economic growth” and was a major milestone in the company’s plans to develop Port of Barrow.
The application was approved by Westmorland and Furness Council on Monday despite an objection from the Cumbria Bird Club over concerns it would disturb lapwings and curlews, which used the dock to rest and feed.
However, ABP’s proposal included a number of measures to improve biodiversity, including installing seabird nesting rafts, floating reed beds and artificial habitats under the solar panels.
ABP said Barrow Energy Dock would help BAE Systems Submarines secure renewable power for decades.
Kirsten Abbott, ABP’s senior project manager for energy generation and storage, said: “The energy is intended to be used by the advanced manufacturing sector and will help to better control the cost of electricity at the port as well as helping to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy resilience for local industry.”
The solar farm is part of ABP’s wider plans to redevelop the Port of Barrow, which also includes building a new base to support off-shore wind production.