England’s first shared solar park to be built in Devon

From today, households across Devon and Britain will be able to buy and own part of the pioneering Derril Water Solar Park project in Devon which is located just over 1km from the village of Pyworthy. 

The project, developed by renewable energy company Ripple Energy, will provide an alternative ownership model for the way solar parks can be operated in Britain. 

Ripple will ring-fence 10% of the ownership of Derril Water Solar Park exclusively for those in the surrounding area and is asking interested local households and businesses to come forward. Locals will be given two weeks exclusive access to buy shares from the ring fenced portion of the project. 

Those shareholders will see savings applied to their electricity bill, based on how much electricity their share of the solar park generates. By co-owning Derril Water Solar Park, members will be able to power their homes with local green energy, cutting their energy bills whilst reducing their carbon footprint. The remaining 90% of the solar park will be open to people across Britain.

Ripple already has two consumer-owned wind farms in Wales and Scotland but Derril Water Solar Park will be their most ambitious project to date.

Ripple will continue to be involved in the project, undertaking the construction and providing operational services once the solar park starts generating clean energy.

Sarah Merrick, founder and CEO of Ripple Energy said: ‘By offering consumer ownership, Derril Water Solar Park will become a completely different kind of solar park, one owned by the people it supplies low cost green power to. We want Derril Water to become a blueprint for consumer-owned solar parks around the world. We want to create a wave of green energy ownership that enables people to make a real climate impact, as well as stabilising their energy bills. People from all corners of Britain will be able to co-own Derril Water Solar Park, and we hope as many as possible will become part of this pioneering project.’

Lucy Whitford, RES’ Managing Director – UK&I said: ‘Bringing Ripple on board at Derril Water offers a new way for consumers to share in the benefits of renewable energy and play a part in fighting climate change. The ability for local households and businesses to get involved connects the community directly with the project. Ripple’s model at Derril Water provides a direct way for consumers to lower their energy costs at such a critical time.’