First shared solar park in England to be built in Devon

Households across the UK will be able to buy part of the pioneering Derril Water Solar Park project in Devon, developed by Ripple Energy. 

The pioneering project, located just more than 1km from the village of Pyworthy, is set provide an alternative ownership model for the way solar parks can be operated.

Some 10% of the Derril Water Solar Park will be reserved for ownership by those in the surrounding area. The company is inviting local households and businesses to sign up, with two weeks of exclusive access to buy shares in the ring-fenced portion of the project. 

Shareholders will be able to power their homes with local green energy and reduce their carbon footprint. They will also make savings on their energy bills relative to the amount of electricity generated by their share of the solar park.   

The remaining 90% of the solar park will be made available to people all across the UK. Renewable energy company Ripple already runs two consumer-owned wind farms in Wales and Scotland.  

Ripple will undertake construction of the Derril Water Solar Park then continue to provide operational services once it starts to generate clean energy. 

Sarah Merrick, founder and CEO of Ripple Energy said: ‘Derril Water Solar Park will become a completely different kind of solar park, one owned by the people it supplies low-cost green power to. We want Derril Water to become a blueprint for consumer-owned solar parks around the world. We want to create a wave of green energy ownership that enables people to make a real climate impact, as well as stabilising their energy bills. People from all corners of Britain will be able to co-own Derril Water Solar Park, and we hope as many as possible will become part of this pioneering project.’ 

Lucy Whitford, Managing Director of Development and Construction at Renewable Energy Systems, added: ‘Bringing Ripple on board at Derril Water offers a new way for consumers to share in the benefits of renewable energy and play a part in fighting climate change. The ability for local households and businesses to get involved connects the community directly with the project. Ripple’s model at Derril Water provides a direct way for consumers to lower their energy costs at such a critical time.’ 

In related news, Scotland’s first floating solar panels are to be launched this year. 

Photo by Red Zeppelin