Plans have been submitted for what has been described as the UK’s largest floating solar energy project.

Associated British Ports (ABP) has taken a step forward in its plans for the Port of Barrow by submitting a planning application for Barrow EnergyDock.

ABP says the Barrow EnergyDock floating solar project, to be based in Cavendish Dock, will be the largest of its kind in the UK.

The solar array will have a generating capacity in the region of up to 40MWp, enough to power the equivalent of circa 14,000 homes each year.

The energy is intended to be used by the advanced manufacturing sector and will help to better control the cost of electricity at the port.

Kirsten Abbott, group commercial manager (energy) at ABP said: “We are thrilled to be submitting the planning application for the Barrow EnergyDock, which is a testament to ABP’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.

“It aligns with the goals set out in ABP’s sustainability strategy – Ready for Tomorrow – and represents a significant step towards a greener future for the port.”

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 circa 47,000 panels. 

Current leisure activities in the dock will continue and there may be scope for further leisure use in the future.

The approach of deploying floating solar in Cavendish Dock, rather than ground-mount solar, will provide renewable energy whilst preserving port land for operational and manufacturing uses, that have the potential to support jobs and the wider economy.

As part of the development process ABP commissioned Green Cat Renewables, an environmental and engineering consultancy, to help develop and deliver the planning application elements of the project.

Two public consultation events were held in the autumn of last year to provide an opportunity for the local community to ask questions and give their views on the scheme.

ABP’s marine consultancy and survey company, ABPmer, carried out a range of marine ecology and coastal waterbird surveys and assessments in and around Cavendish Dock. The results suggest that no significant impacts are expected from the development.