South Farm is a 49.9MW ground-mounted solar farm near Spetisbury, Dorset that has been developed, constructed, operated and maintained by Voltalia, with funding support from Santander UK. South Farm is a landmark project in that it holds one of the first major solar corporate power purchase agreements in the UK, providing over 50% of the City of London’s electricity requirements via a 15-year PPA.
What was the aim of the work?
Natural Power was engaged to review the technical aspects of the project to provide comfort for Santander in their financing of this solar farm.
What was the outcome?
The solar farm secured a £25m loan to support its construction, and was successfully commissioned in late 2022.
What did Natural Power do to get this result?
Natural Power’s team of solar experts provided an in-depth review of the project’s design, technology, permits, grid connection and energy yield assessment. We also supported the finalisation of the project’s suite of construction and operations contracts, drawing on our extensive knowledge of industry norms and best practice.
During the construction phase, we regularly visited the site to assess construction progress and quality, signed off on drawdowns, and verified that the construction contractor fulfilled their obligations for commissioning, acceptance and handover.
“Natural Power assisted us throughout the due diligence process for the financing of our 50MW solar project in the UK. We appreciated the team’s pragmatism and will to find appropriate solution for us and for the lenders in a timely and efficient manner. The quality and clarity of the reports provided to us was noticeable and we are also very appreciative of the diligent and clear communication throughout each step of the process. It has been a very positive experience for us.”
Estelle Lemare, Asset Owner - Voltalia
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