United Utilities will invest £3.5 million (US$5.4 million) to set up a floating solar power system in Manchester’s Godley reservoir.
The development of 12,000 panels will cover an area of 45,500 sq meters. United Utilities is targeting bringing the installation it into operation before Christmas 2015. Once complete, the 12-week project will provide United Utilities with 2.7 gigawatt-hours per year of renewable power to be used directly by the site.
“We have a target to generate 35% of our power requirements by 2020 and this project will make a significant contribution to that aim,” said United Utilities head of renewable energy Chris Stubbs said. “As part of United Utilities’ energy strategy to generate more power we identified the Godley reservoir as a suitable site to install a floating solar array to provide the water treatment works with approximately 33% of its energy requirements.
“While floating solar has been deployed elsewhere around the world, most notably in Japan, it is a new technology to the UK. Installations such as the Godley solar scheme will help us to keep energy costs and water customers’ bills low.”
