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A floating solar system installed at a tomato farm in Suffolk is already notching up considerable savings – 10 months after it was installed.
Family-run green energy firm East Green Energy fitted the array at Suffolk Fresh’s water reservoir at Blakenham Nursery, Bramford, near Ipswich, in November last year.
The 1,250 panel structure – built over a few weeks – was the fourth installed in the UK and one of the largest.
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Robbie Gawthrop, centre, with sons George, left, and Jack at East Green Energy
So far, it has produced around 500 megawatt hours of energy.
Based on its performance to date, it is on course to cut imported energy to the producer’s glasshouses by more than a fifth.
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The amount of energy produced equates to around the yearly consumption of 45 to 50 average UK homes.
East Green Energy is owned by the Gawthrop family – which was involved in pig farming over generations before launching the green energy business around 20 years ago.
It now employs around 20 people from its base in Melton, near Woodbridge, and specialises in solar PV, battery storage, heat pumps and EV charging.
East Green Energy installing a floating solar array at Suffolk Fresh tomato growers at Blakenham Nursery, Brantham, Ipswich
The firm is run by managing director Robbie Gawthrop supported by his sons George and Jack who are commercial director and commercial manager respectively.
Jack Gawthrop said the concept of the floating solar array was already popular in Europe as it has a dual use in stopping evaporation and erosion as well as producing energy.
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The company designed, installed and now maintains the array, having imported the parts from a manufacturer in Germany.
“East Green Energy’s floating solar project at Suffolk Fresh has now been running for 10 months, and it’s already proving its worth,” he said.
“The system has generated 499,015 kWh of clean energy, making good use of the reservoir and giving the site a steady, low-carbon power supply.
“Floating solar performs well thanks to the natural cooling effect of the water, and this project shows how well it can work for a busy rural site.
East Green Energy installing a floating solar array at Suffolk Fresh tomato growers at Blakenham Nursery, Brantham, Ipswich
“Around 95% of the energy produced has been used directly on site, which means the system is closely matched to Suffolk Fresh’s daily demand.
“Based on the way it’s performing, we are expecting it to cut their import rates by at least 20%, helping to keep costs down while reducing their environmental impact.”
Over a 10-month period, the new installation generated 499,015 kWh of electricity, 95% of which was used on site and the rest was exported to the grid.
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Mark Pearson of tomato growers Suffolk Fresh said: “The floating solar system is already delivering clear benefits, from cutting our energy bills to giving us far more control over our power use during peak periods.
“For a site like ours, where refrigeration, irrigation and processing equipment run constantly, the savings and stability this project brings are hugely valuable.”
East Green Energy partnered with National Pontoon on the 750 kWp project, one of the UK’s largest floating solar schemes.
East Green Energy installing a floating solar array at Suffolk Fresh tomato growers at Blakenham Nursery, Brantham, Ipswich
The vast nursery it serves is one of the UK’s first semi-closed hydroponic glasshouses and covers 8.4 hectares.
The energy produced is used mainly for Suffolk Fresh’s refrigeration systems.
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The solar panels are mounted on floating pontoons which are anchored to the reservoir bund and fixed at an optimum angle for solar generation.
East Green Energy specialists in commercial and utility‑scale work and has several multi‑megawatt schemes progressing through development.
Floating solar is gaining interest in the UK because reservoirs, lakes and lagoons are seen as having practical advantages.
These include that it’s space-efficient and panels tend to run cooler over water which helps with output.
Many water bodies already sit close to grid connections or industrial areas.
If the UK keeps pace with international development, studies suggest floating solar could reach more than 40 gigawatts of capacity by 2050 – and around 3.6 gigawatts by 2030, said the firm.
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