en.Wedoany.com Reported - A 400 kW floating solar power plant has been commissioned at a quarry in Cheshire, supplying renewable electricity to industrial sand producer Bathgate Silica Sand. Comprising 650 floating solar panels, the installation is located on North Ackerdly Lake and was built by Scottish marine energy company Nova over six months.

Developed by Nova in partnership with environmental engineering firm RSK Group, the project began in December 2025 and generated its first power in May 2026. The quarry continued normal operations during construction. Covering an area equivalent to two Olympic-sized swimming pools, the array is expected to help Bathgate Silica Sand reduce energy costs and support the decarbonization goals of its century-old quarry.

Unlike traditional ground-mounted solar farms, which often face controversy over land use, floating solar requires no additional land, and the water beneath naturally cools the panels, helping to improve power generation efficiency. Although still a niche segment of the solar market, a recent report by CBI Economics highlights floating solar as a significant opportunity to lower electricity bills, increase UK power generation, strengthen energy security, and support the transition to a low-carbon electricity system. The UK government's solar roadmap has committed to increasing national solar capacity to 70 GW by 2035, with floating solar seen as capable of rapid, large-scale deployment on lakes, reservoirs, ports, and harbors.

Simon Forrest, CEO of Nova, stated that achieving first power at the Cheshire quarry is a major milestone, demonstrating the team's ability to deliver the project within six months. The array is already reducing the customer's energy costs, fully showcasing the value floating solar can create for businesses with water bodies. David Robinson, Managing Director of Bathgate Silica Sand, called it a significant moment for the company and evidence that quarries play a key role in creating a more sustainable future. Additionally, French clean technology company HelioRec is developing nearshore floating solar systems for coastal waters, further expanding the application scenarios of floating solar.

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