Downing bought the solar plant, which is expected to be connected to the grid by the end of 2027, from Windel & Canadian Solar.
March 3, 2026
Investment manager Downing has acquired a ready-to-build (RTB) 42.5MW solar power plant in Cornwall that is due to be completed and grid-connected in Q4 2027.
The Higher Witheven solar plant has a Gate 2 Phase 1 grid connection offer (enabling the 2027 connection date) and will connect to the 400kV Alverdiscott substation. The site has a Contract for Difference (CfD) from Allocation Round 7 (AR7). 
Downing bought the solar plant, which is in Launceston, Cornwall, from Windel & Canadian Solar. It marks Downing’s fifth site buy in the last three months.
The acquisition is in line with the stated goal of the joint venture (JV) formed by Downing and Japanese financial services firm Tokyo Century Corporation at the start of this year: to acquire ready-to-build utility-scale solar PV projects that already have contracts for difference (CfD) deals in place and grid connection dates in 2027 and 2028. 
Related:French utility Engie buys UK Power Networks in £10.5 billion deal
The company did not state whether the Cornish development will add to the roughly 500MW portfolio planned under the JV.
Sean Moore, senior investment director at Downing, said the acquisition “aligns with Downing’s long-term investment strategy, which focuses on building and managing high-quality renewable energy assets that deliver stable returns while supporting the UK’s transition to a low-carbon energy system.”
Recent acquisitions by Downing include a pair of projects from BOOM Power, the 22.2MW New Hall Solar Farm and the 49.9MW Low Farm Solar Farm. The others are Halesfield Solar Farm from Vattenfall, and Higher Hawkerland Solar Farm by developer SPRING CHE.
All of the acquisitions were finalised after grid connection offers for Gate 2 Phase 1 were confirmed, suggesting the buys were contingent on secured grid connection dates.
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Molly Green
Senior Reporter, Informa
Molly joined the team in 2024 and has led coverage on the UK sites. Now shifting to a more global view, Molly is interested in how legislation shapes market dynamics, covering the intersection of policy design, investment patterns, and energy transition pathways. 
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