Associated British Ports (ABP) has begun the planning process for the country’s largest floating solar project at the Port of Barrow in north-west England.
The Barrow EnergyDock project will see a floating solar array installed at Cavendish Dock with a generating capacity of up to 40MWp, enough to power around 14,000 homes annually.
This initiative is primarily to support Barrow’s advanced engineering sector by providing renewable energy at a more stable and affordable cost.
“We’re excited to see the planning application submitted for Barrow EnergyDock, and to see the first element of ABP’s Port of Barrow Masterplan start to take shape,” said Bryan Davies, divisional port manager (Northwest and Scotland), ABP.
“ABP’s team worked with the local Barrow team to design a masterplan focused on driving growth and strengthening the local economy in response to the significant investment coming to the region over the next ten to twenty years.”
The solar panels will be mounted on floating pontoons, anchored securely to the dock’s bottom, covering about one-third of the available water area with approximately 47,000 panels.
This approach allows for significant energy generation while preserving valuable port land for operational and manufacturing use.
Public consultations were held last autumn, and ABP commissioned Green Cat Renewables to help with the planning process. Marine ecology surveys by ABPmer show minimal environmental impact.
“This application is a testament to ABP’s commitment to sustainability and innovation,” said Kirsten Abbott, group commercial manager (energy) at ABP.
“It aligns with the goals set out in ABP’s sustainability strategy – Ready for Tomorrow – and represents a significant step towards a greener future for the port.”
