United Utilities (UU) is working on plans to develop 150MW of new installed renewables capacity by 2030. It said the programme – described as an ‘initial step’ – could be a combination of solar, wind and batteries, helping to deliver emissions reductions and improve both operating and financial resilience.
In 2023 UU had power costs of £130.8 million, up a third on its £99.6 million spend in 2022, a major factor in a 15 per cent rise in operating costs. But the water and sewage company, which serves the northwest, owns and manage 56,000 hectares of land, which provides scope for the development of renewable and other clean technologies.
It said, “Having previously delivered a portfolio of renewable assets across the North West, we are now moving to the next stage of the journey to net zero”. In October last year UU sold 70 renewable energy projects totalling 69MW, predominantly solar PV, to SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust (SEEIT) for approximately £100 million funded. The assets continue to provide renewable energy generated on-site directly to United Utilities under long term contracts.