Farming solar power for a lower carbon University
Success Story: University of Manchester
UP TO 65% OF ELECTRICITY DEMAND TO BE MET BY SOLAR POWER
12,000 TONNES CO2e SAVED ANNUALLY
The University of Manchester made huge strides towards its 2038 zero carbon ambitions in 2024 by committing to purchase electricity for the next 10 years from a giant new UK solar farm.
The Medebridge Solar Farm in Essex, under development by clean energy firm Enviromena, will comprise 104,000 solar panels across an area the size of 70 football pitches.
The University’s partnership with Enviromena will see it purchase 80% of the electricity generated by the solar farm – enough to power 21,000 homes. This will meet up to two thirds of the University’s total electricity demand, reducing its annual carbon emissions by 12,000 tonnes.
Crucially, the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) plays a key role in bringing the solar farm to fruition and aids the UK’s wider transition to a cleaner electricity grid. Construction is due to be complete by autumn 2025.
“As consumers many of us may have ‘green’ or renewable energy tariff. These are important, but they don’t put ‘additional’ renewable power into the grid in the same way as a power purchase agreement. By signing a PPA we’re supporting not only a greener University of Manchester, but also a greener energy grid across the UK.
“This PPA is part of a much wider transition away from burning fossil fuels and towards generating significantly more cleaner, electrified forms of power.”
Dr Julian Skyrme, Director of Social Responsibility at The University of Manchester