BNRG And Langmead Announce 15MW Project
BNRG Renewables has commenced construction of a 15 megawatt solar PV park on Bilsham Farm in West Sussex, UK. In addition to providing significant carbon reduction, this 85 acre, 15 megawatt park will produce enough electricity to power over 4,950 homes for 30 years.
They are constructing the project through a joint venture with the Langmead Group. While BNRG have been developing and constructing projects of this scale since 2007, this is the first project for the new joint venture company. BNRG Langmead will focus on agri-energy projects leveraging the unique knowledge of both Companies.
Conor Grogan, Project Co-ordinator at BNRG, was on site to see the first pile been driven in mid-July and described it as a real milestone. He went on to say that "getting the project to this stage has taken over 12 months and is a testament to each team member at BNRG and the Langmead Group who developed a superb scheme".
To date BNRG has developed and constructed solar farms with a combined value of over €170 million. They have completed eleven utility scale solar projects in the UK since 2011. The Company is proud of its 100% track record in securing planning permissions, which has established BNRG as a market leader in the solar sector.
The Langmead Group is a leading producer of fresh produce into UK retailers and food service and has been keen to be involved in the renewable energy space for some time. According to Graham Leech, Chief Operating Officer, "˜The Langmead Group paired up with BNRG last year both to diversify its investments and to strengthen its ongoing commitment to sustainability'. The company farms some 2,500 hectares in West Sussex, Scotland and Suffolk and Spain.
The main construction contractor is Cofely Fabricom a Belgium Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor specialising in solar PV projects. Cofely Fabricom is a wholly owned subsidiary of GDF Suez, the French Utility. This is the first project that they have constructed in the UK and they have worked very closely with the BNRG team to ensure that the project is delivered to exacting standards and in compliance with UK construction grid connection regulations.
Eric Rosier, Managing Director at Cofely Fabricom, stated "˜this is a first of its kind project for us and we are very excited to be doing it in close partnership with BNRG Renewables and the Langmead Group'. The 60,000 solar PV modules required for the project are being supplied by Renesola, a preferred supplier to BNRG.
Director at BNRG, Nick Holman, said the company is excited to see the first BNRG Langmead project being realised and believe it will be the first of many as the Company lines up a number of similar projects across the UK and Europe for construction in 2015 and beyond. Holman placed considerable emphasis on the unique skill sets of the two companies that make a strong foundation to a growing agri-energy business going forward and highlighted the fact that the company would be expanding its product portfolio to include solar solutions for agricultural rooftops such as grain stores and pack houses, alongside other renewable energy technologies.
BNRG recently received planning approval for the first utility scale solar PV plan on the Island of Ireland near Downpatrick, Co. Down, Northern Ireland.
