Exeter’s unique renewable energy project shortlisted for another top award
Published: 1 March 2024
Exeter’s pioneering solar farm and battery storage facility at Marsh Barton has been shortlisted for another top award.
Exeter City Council has been named among those shortlisted for the Clean Energy Scheme category at the 2024 Green Energy Awards, hosted by Regen.
The prestigious award commends projects that are spearheading the clean energy industry and delivering significant carbon savings.
Exeter has been shortlisted in the Clean Energy Scheme category for the Water Lane Smart Grid and Storage project.
The project is the first of its kind in the region and delivers a further step towards the City Council’s ambition of becoming Net Zero Carbon by 2030.
Cllr Josie Parkhouse, Lead Councillor for Climate and Ecological Crisis, said: “This facility is a fantastic development which is generating sustainable power and cutting our carbon emissions in Exeter.
“It is great that, once again, the success of this project has been recognised nationally by being shortlisted in these prestigious awards.”
The Smart Grid and Storage Project is powering the city’s electric fleet of vehicles, its recycling centre and offices with green energy.
It features 3,700 solar panels which create 1.2MW of clean, renewable energy. The substantial battery facility is capable of storing 2MW and provides flexibility between peak generation and peak usage.
The facility is built on an inactive landfill site and feeds power directly to the Council’s nearby operations depot.
The Green Energy Awards are a leading national celebration of pioneering innovation and sustainable development for the UK’s energy system. More than 100 entries were submitted this year by companies, communities and individuals across the UK for consideration in six categories.
Regen chief executive Merlin Hyman said: “Across the UK there are inspiring people leading pioneering projects and paving the way to a zero-carbon energy system. The Green Energy Awards are all about celebrating their achievements and inspiring us all to rise to the challenge of transforming how we power our lives and heat our homes.
“We are grateful for the achievements of this year’s nominees and we’re looking forward to announcing the winners at the awards ceremony next month.”
Exeter will now go through to the final stage of judging by an expert panel of independent judges, before the winners are announced at the dazzling awards ceremony on 21 March at Bristol Harbour Hotel.
The project was part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.