Downing has been appointed by Southern Water to deliver 12 new solar PV projects across its sites. Downing will supply renewable energy from these projects to Southern Water’s water treatment facilities under long-term offtake agreements.

The renewable energy and infrastructure arm of Downing’s Estate Planning Service will invest £12 million over a two-year period to deliver the solar PV projects which will generate a total of 8.4GWh each year to run treatment plants.

Downing Renewable Developments, Downing’s in-house project development team, will manage the development and construction of the sites, with the electricity generated being directly utilised by Southern Water.

It is the third such water industry investment by Downing, which has £760 million of assets under management in solar, wind, hydro, battery storage and other infrastructure sectors.