As part of a deal signed with Ortus Energy, SSE will acquire 13MW of rooftop solar PV projects and assist in developing up to 130MW of rooftop solar in the commercial market.
SSE’s customer arm, SSE Energy Solutions will manage the existing assets, which are already installed across multiple sites. SSE then has the exclusive option to finance the 130MW pipeline over the next three years, financing development and installation upfront.
Ortus Energy will identify and develop the projects, and businesses will then pay for the power generated at a fixed rate through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs).
Alistair Booth, CEO Ortus Energy, said: “Ortus Energy’s expertise in identifying and developing solar projects, combined with SSE Energy Solutions’ commitment to helping businesses become sustainable, creates a powerful alliance that can boost the commercial solar landscape in GB and demonstrates Ortus’ leading position in the commercial and industrial solar development space.”
Managing director of SSE Energy Customer Solutions, Nikki Flanders, added: “Making inroads into UK-wide decarbonisation targets requires a multi-pronged approach, and this includes equipping businesses with the services and products they need to decarbonise their buildings and operations.
“We want to be the partner of choice for all types of businesses looking to tackle their energy costs and emissions, whether they are seeking external infrastructure solutions such as solar installations or internal upgrades like smart meters and smart building controls.”
SSE branching out across solar
SSE Renewables’ first solar project, 31MW Littleton Pastures solar farm, in Worcestershire, entered construction in August 2023 and the 77-acre site is set to be operational sometime this year.
SSE Energy’s renewables arm has also been a big player in the UK battery energy storage scene this year. Battery installation is wrapping up for its 150MW/300MWh Ferrybridge battery project that, once operational, will be three times the size of SSE’s flagship battery storage site in Salisbury, which has been operational since 15 April.
Net zero by 2030
The UK solar industry is having its moment in the sun under the new Labour Government. Within days of his appointment, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband granted development consent orders (DCOs) to three solar farms classed as nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs), totalling over 1.3GW of generation capacity.
At the start of this week, the government reactivated the Solar Taskforce, co-chaired by Miliband and Chris Hewett of Solar Energy UK.
Miliband has declared ambitions to “unleash a UK solar rooftop revolution”, part of Labour’s ambitious climate targets. The speed with which the party has acted so far is encouraging, but a recent report by the Climate Change Committee (CCC) signalled solar deployment is behind schedule.
The report says that to meet net zero by 2030, solar installations need to increase fivefold.
