Cottam Solar Project granted generation license, aims for late 2022 application

The 600 MW Cottam Solar Project being developed by Island Green Power on the Lincolnshire/Nottinghamshire border has been granted an electricity generation license by UK energy regulator Ofgem, the regulator said Dec. 23.

A license is required under the Electricity Act before a generator can supply any premises or enable supply to be given.

Island Green Power is developing the huge solar project with associated storage with a view to using Cottam Power Station's grid connection. The 2 GW coal plant owned by EDF closed in 2019.

A first phase of community consultations for the solar and battery storage project closed Dec. 15.

Project developers anticipate submitting a development consent order in Q4 2022, with an anticipated start of construction in 2024.

The project involves three solar sites near Blyton, Corringham and Willingham by Stow, totaling 2,800 acres of land connected by underground cables.

A similar project is being developed by Island Green Power connecting to the grid via the West Burton power station near Retford, Nottinghamshire.

The 2 GW West Burton A coal plant is due to close in September, 2022. This site is also owned by EDF.

In October, oil and gas company Shell signed a framework agreement with Island Green Power to develop solar projects co-located with battery storage, with an initial target of 700 MW.

London-based Island Green Power has developed 172 MW of solar PV capacity in the UK and 816 MW in Australia. It has over 2.5 GW in development in the UK, Australia, Ireland and Spain.

The UK has 13.4 GW of solar capacity installed. Trade association Solar Energy UK assumes ground-mounted additions of around 1 GW/year from 2022.

In its first renewable energy capture price forecasts Dec. 16, S&P Global Platts Analytics saw UK solar achieving Eur72.70/MWh ($82.45/MWh) in 2025, or 93% of baseload power prices.

This it forecast to drop to Eur37.70/MWh or 76% of baseload prices in 2030 as solar capacity and cannibalization of prices grew.