- Quinbrook has launched commercial operations at the 373 MW Cleve Hill Solar Park, now the largest solar project in the UK.
- Cleve Hill is set to cut 142,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, support over 2,500 jobs, and deliver £114 million in local socio-economic benefits.
Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has completed construction and launched commercial operations at the Cleve Hill Solar Park in Kent, now the most significant operational solar project in the United Kingdom.
The solar park, with a capacity of 373 megawatts (MW) direct current, is more than four times larger than any other solar installation in the country. During commissioning in May, it peaked at an output equal to 0.7% of the UK’s total electricity demand.
This marks a significant milestone in the UK’s clean energy transition.
Importantly, Cleve Hill is the first solar and battery storage project to receive approval as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). It also secured the largest financing deal for any solar-plus-storage project in the UK. Quinbrook arranged a £218.5 million term loan and a £20 million VAT facility with Lloyds Bank and NatWest.
In addition to the solar park, a 150 MW battery energy storage system is under construction at the same site. Once complete, the project will become the UK’s largest co-located solar and storage facility.
“This project sets a new benchmark for utility-scale solar in the UK,” said Keith Gains, Managing Director and UK Regional Leader at Quinbrook. “We overcame major challenges in development and construction. Now, we deliver clean, affordable energy while creating jobs and supporting the local economy.”
Quinbrook partnered with its development affiliate, Private Energy Partners, to deliver the project after receiving development consent in early 2023.
To support long-term revenue, Quinbrook signed a corporate power purchase agreement (PPA) with Tesco PLC, the largest s to support long-term revenueolar corporate PPA ever completed in the UK. Cleve Hill was the first solar NSIP to win a Contract for Difference (CfD) under the UK government’s low-carbon auction scheme.
“Cleve Hill shows what’s possible when you combine smart financing, strong partnerships, and a bold vision for the future,” said Rory Quinlan, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Quinbrook. “Projects like this build confidence that the UK can reach its renewable energy goals.”
The project is expected to deliver significant environmental and economic benefits. Cleve Hill will cut over 142,000 tonnes of carbon emissions in its first year. Over its lifetime, it will support more than 2,500 direct and indirect jobs and contribute £114 million in socio-economic value to the region.
As the UK pushes to install 70 GW of solar capacity by 2035, Cleve Hill is a powerful example of how large-scale infrastructure can accelerate the energy transition.