MEDEBRIDGE, ESSEX
PROJECT OVERVIEW
In March 2024 Enviromena completed a multi-million pound transaction to acquire the 71MWp Medebridge Solar Farm project in Essex. The site will comprise over 100,000 solar panels on 175 acres of land and will avoid more than 14,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum. It is due to be energised in 2025.
PROJECT DETAILS
Annual Energy Yield (MWh)
Tonnes of CO2 saved every year*
Equivalent number of homes powered**
WHAT WAS INVOLVED
Enviromena acquired the Medebridge solar project near South Ockenden, Essex in March 2024. The acquisition was handled by Enviromena’s experienced in-house legal team over a 12-month period and with a development and term loan facility from Close Brothers Energy.
Medebridge is a large-scale, ready-to-build project on 175 acres of low-grade agricultural land, equivalent to the size of around 70 football pitches. Construction has already commenced and once complete, the project will generate 72,500 MWh per annum that will save more than 14,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
The site will also create a significant biodiversity net gain with enhancements to the existing hedgerows and planting of native grassland and wildflower meadow beneath and around the solar arrays. It is hoped the site will encourage nesting opportunities for wildlife and improved habitat connectivity.
CORPORATE PPA
There is a Corporate Power Purchase agreement (cPPA) in place on the site, to deliver clean energy to the University of Manchester over a 10 year period. The cPPA commits the University to purchase 80% of Medebridge’s total annual generation capacity of around 59GWh, reducing University carbon emissions by 12,000 t/co2 every year – enough to power 21,000 homes.
The partnership with the University of Manchester was significant because the long-term purchasing commitment between the University and Enviromena played a key role in bringing this development forward. The agreement took over three years in planning, procurement and negotiations, but has paid off in the form of a huge sustainability commitment from a red-brick university in its bicentenary year, while adding much-needed renewable energy capacity to the UK electricity system.
CONSTRUCTION
Construction commenced in spring 2024 and energisation is due to take place in the summer of 2025.
MANAGEMENT OF THE SITE
Enviromena will own, operate and manage the site for the duration of the project design life, including the provision of full O&M and asset management services.
PROJECT TIMELINE
Project acquired from NTR plc
Commencement of construction onsite
Planned project completion and energisation
*0.19338 kg per kWh (GOV.UK – 2022)
**2,700kWh per annum – average sized UK home (Ofgem)