Major plans have been lodged for the UK’s largest floating solar farm in Barrow.
Associated British Ports has submitted the application to Westmorland and Furness Council to construct the solar array off Cavendish Dock.
The Barrow EnergyDock development will have a generating capacity of 35-40MWp.
The application added: “The long term viability of the port will also be secured, ensuring it is an attractive place for existing and new businesses, which in turn will hopefully lead to more, direct local employment at the port and indirect jobs in the local economy.”
The solar panels will be mounted on floating pontoons fixed at an optimum angle for solar generation, with the pontoons secured to the bottom of the dock by an anchoring system.
The proposed array would cover around one-third of the available water area in the dock and would be made up of around 47,000 panels.
Current leisure activities in the dock will continue and there may be scope for further leisure use in the future, ABP said.
Solar panels would be mounted on floating pontoons which would be secured to the base of the dock by an anchoring system.
Construction of the proposed development would begin this summer if given the go-ahead and is estimated to take around nine to 12 months to complete.
Bryan Davies, divisional port manager (Northwest and Scotland), ABP, said: “We’re excited to see the planning application submitted for Barrow EnergyDock, and to see the first element of ABP’s Port of Barrow Masterplan start to take shape.
“ABP’s masterplanning team worked with the local Barrow team to design a masterplan focused on driving growth and strengthening the local economy in response to the significant investment coming to the region over the next 10 to 20 years.
“Barrow EnergyDock is a pivotal step in realising our vision for a prosperous and sustainable future for Barrow.”
The site is currently used by Barrow Angling Association and other recreational users.
Associated British Ports consulted with the angling association to ensure any potential impacts on current activities around the dock were minimised or mitigated where possible.
It added: “While there may be some temporary impacts during the construction phase on the recreational receptors using the dock, these are predicted to be short term and will only impact a modest section of the wider dock area, allowing fishing activities to continue, as well as public access to the walkways to continue.”
The floating solar farm is due to be the first major project in ABP’s masterplan for the port with a new jetty and bases to serve offshore wind projected to follow.
The masterplan also includes proposals for maritime connections to support hydrogen import and carbon storage.
This planning application is undergoing public consultation.
Here’s everything you need to know about Associated British Ports’ plans
