Solar park switches on at Portsmouth port

The installation was managed by Portsmouth City Council and run by Custom Solar with assistance from engineers at the port. The project entailed the fitting of roof-mounted solar panels across several buildings, along with large battery storage and what are said to be the first solar canopies at a UK port.

The last piece of the project completed in July 2023, with the connection to the national grid allowing for the full potential of the 1.2 MW peak system to be realised.

Elly Howe, environmental and sustainability coordinator at Portsmouth International Port, said: “This huge solar installation and battery storage facility will help the port reach our ambitious sustainability goals.

“Energy consumption at the port is already down 33% on last year so I’m excited to see what we can achieve in the future.”

This ground-breaking system, comprising 2,660 solar panels, provides 35% of the site’s electricity and brings the port closer to becoming one of the UK’s first net carbon neutral ports.

The solar system is complemented with an onsite battery with a capacity of 1.3 megawatt hours, which can power a typical home for four months. It captures renewable energy, which would otherwise be exported to the local electricity network, and redirects it to the port’s buildings when required.

Gary Sucharewycz, development director at Custom Solar, said: “Portsmouth City Council are very forward thinking in their renewable ambitions and we are very proud to have supported them by developing and delivering this major solar and storage project.

“The project demonstrates how solar can be integrated into areas of land in busy operational sites such as this and we look forward to working with the council on future projects.”