A solar farm in East Sussex will directly power the London mainline railway following £2.5m funding awarded to solar rail project Riding Sunbeams.
The investment from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership’s (SELEP) will enable the 3.75MW Cuckmere Community Solar Farm to be built in Berwick, north of Eastbourne. The renewable energy plant will the power the London mainline railway via a ‘private-wire’ direct connection.
Receiving a share of the governments Getting Building Fund, the project aims to make the London to Eastbourne mainline the world’s first railway directly powered by solar electricity.
Riding Sunbeams executive director, Ollie Pendered, said: “It will enable us to work together to prove that MW-scale solar can be directly connected to the railways and open up the market for region-wide solar connections.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to show the UK rail sector that commercial innovation can help power us all to the zero-carbon future we need.”
Last year trials managed by Riding Sunbeams and Network Rail demonstrated the feasibility of piping electricity generated by solar power directly to lineside equipment, bypassing the main grid.
It is expected the solar plant will be finished in March 2022. Rail commuters and local community members will be offered the chance to invest in the project.
Dr Alister Scott, chair of the Cuckmere Community Solar Company, said: “By connecting community-owned renewable energy sites like Cuckmere Community Solar to the rail network, Riding Sunbeams can inspire rail users to travel in a really low carbon way with a genuine sense of ownership over the solution.”
Riding Sunbeams is also working with Transport for London and Transport for Wales to roll out similar schemes elsewhere in the country.
