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WAGO is a global leader in electrical interconnection and open automation, supporting industrial and building engineers worldwide. With 75 years of innovation and 9,000 specialists, WAGO delivers safe, maintenance-free connectivity and scalable automation solutions built on open standards. From high-performance terminal blocks that speed panel build to automation, energy management and smart buildings, WAGO enables resilient, efficient and future-ready systems.
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Nova
A 400kW floating photovoltaic (FPV) array has been installed at Bathgate Silica Sand’s Cheshire quarry to supply the industrial sand producer with renewable electricity.  
Made up of 650 floating solar panels on North Arclid Lake, the array was installed over a six-month period by Scottish marine energy firm Nova.
Developed in partnership with environmental engineering firm RSK Group, work on the project began in December 2025, with first power delivered in May 2026. Quarry operations were able to continue as normal during the entire project installation.
The array, which is the size of two Olympic swimming pools, will help Bathgate Silica Sand to decarbonise its century-old quarry operations and reduce its energy bills.
Nova
While conventional solar farms sometimes attract controversy because of the amount of land they use, floating solar farms do not take up any space on land and are cooled naturally by the water underneath them, boosting their efficiency.  
Floating solar panel usage is expanding rapidly as they gain popularity, though they are still considered a niche part of the overall solar market. A recent report by CBI Economics championed floating solar as a major opportunity to lower bills, boost UK power generation, strengthen energy security and support the UK’s transition to a low carbon power system.
The government’s solar roadmap has also committed to increase national solar capacity to 70GW by 2035, with floating solar identified as a technology that can contribute at pace and scale across lakes, reservoirs, ports and harbours.
Simon Forrest, CEO at Nova, said: “Achieving first power at the Cheshire quarry is a significant milestone and a testament to our team, who delivered this project in just six months. The array is already reducing our client’s energy bills. It clearly demonstrates what floating solar can offer to businesses with access to water bodies. We are excited about what this project signals, both for our pipeline and for the role floating solar will play in the UK reaching its 2035 target.”
David Robinson, managing director at Bathgate Silica Sand, said: “This is a significant moment for our business and shows that quarries are playing a key role in creating a more sustainable future.” 
While FPVs have become a feature in the secluded waters of lakes and reservoirs, French clean-tech company HelioRec is developing near-shore floating solar systems for use in coastal waters.  
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WAGO is a global leader in electrical interconnection and open automation, supporting industrial and building engineers worldwide. With 75 years of innovation and 9,000 specialists, WAGO delivers safe, maintenance-free connectivity and scalable automation solutions built on open standards. From high-performance terminal blocks that speed panel build to automation, energy management and smart buildings, WAGO enables resilient, efficient and future-ready systems.
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Sponsored
WAGO is a global leader in electrical interconnection and open automation, supporting industrial and building engineers worldwide. With 75 years of innovation and 9,000 specialists, WAGO delivers safe, maintenance-free connectivity and scalable automation solutions built on open standards. From high-performance terminal blocks that speed panel build to automation, energy management and smart buildings, WAGO enables resilient, efficient and future-ready systems.
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