What is utility-scale solar?
A utility-scale solar farm is a type of solar farm that is large in scale and generates solar power. When the sun shines onto a solar panel, energy from the sunlight is absorbed by the photovoltaic (PV) cells in the panel. This energy then creates electrical charges that move in response to an internal electrical field in the cell, causing a direct current which is captured by the wiring in solar panels. This electricity is then converted to alternating current by an inverter which is then fed into either the transmission or distribution network, depending on the scale of the farm. Paired with battery storage, utility-scale solar provides a flexible backup energy resource.
SSE's solar portfolio
SSE's solar farm locations
Filter sites
Richfield Solar and BESS
SSE Renewables is proposing to develop a c.21MWp solar PV array (solar farm) on lands near the existing 18-turbine Richfield Wind Farm in, County Wexford. The Richfield Wind Farm has been in operation since 2006 and can power almost 18,000 homes and helps to abate almost 22,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide per annum.
Littleton Solar
This 30MW solar farm project in Evesham, Worcestershire is our first solar project which began construction in Summer 2023. The 77-acre site, which SSE Renewables acquired from Stark in December 2021, will be capable of powering 9,400 homes when fully operational.