The facility, according to Veolia, will provide 59MWp of renewable electricity capacity and is “capable of generating electricity equivalent to the demand of over 15,000 homes”.
It has been developed in collaboration with technology provider REG Power Management and is equipped with approximately 107,000 solar modules rated at 540Wp or 545Wp, Veolia said, “designed to maximise power density by absorbing sunlight on both sides”.
These modules are connected to inverters that convert direct current nto alternating current, which is then fed into the grid linked to the nearby Warley substation.
The move is part of the companies landfill restoration programme which began in 2017 and comes after a series of solar panels were installed across multiple sites in 2021 (see letsrecycle.com story).
‘Delighted’
Matt Partridge, development director at REG Power management said: “We’re delighted to have worked with Veolia to help deliver another significant clean energy development. Projects like this are essential if we are to meet our targets for low cost, zero emission electricity generation using the UK’s abundant renewable energy resources”.
In total, Veolia generates 800GWh of electricity through a combination of solar, biomass, biogas, and Energy Recovery facilities (ERF), all qualifying under the Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) scheme. This energy supply is equivalent to powering 240,000 homes.
It is thought to be easier for landfill sites to provide solar power to the National Grid than it would be for many other facilities because they may already have a connection, generating electricity from turbines powered by landfill gas. Connecting to the National Grid can be costly without an existing link.
Development
Donald Macphail, chief operating officer – treatment at Veolia said “This latest renewable energy development is a further step towards achieving a net zero carbon future for the UK, and a demonstration of how we can transform this restored landfill to give it a new life. Through harnessing the power of the sun to deliver renewable electricity we are advancing our aim to achieve ecological transformation, and countering climate change. The project also has greater significance as the solar arrays have minimal ground level impact, so the wildlife that has repopulated the restored land can continue to coexist with the technology.”
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