Overview
Southdown Quarry is a 1.5 MW solar PV facility in the United Kingdom, operated by Ethical Power. It contributes to the UK's renewable energy capacity under the Contracts for Difference scheme.
Southdown Quarry is a solar photovoltaic (PV) facility located in the United Kingdom, with a capacity of 1.5 megawatts. Developed and owned by Ethical Power, the plant is operational and feeds renewable electricity into the national grid. This scale places it within the small-to-medium solar segment typical of UK quarry and brownfield installations. The facility operates under the UK's regulatory framework for renewable energy, which includes the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme and the Renewables Obligation. Solar PV technology converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor panels, with no moving parts and low maintenance requirements. The UK's solar sector has grown significantly, supported by government targets to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Environmentally, Southdown Quarry repurposes a former quarry site for clean energy generation, avoiding land-use conflicts associated with greenfield developments. Solar farms like this contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and support the UK's transition to a low-carbon energy system. The electricity generated displaces fossil-fuel-based power, aiding in climate change mitigation.
Environmental context
The facility is situated in a former quarry, which minimizes visual and land-use impacts compared to greenfield solar farms. Solar PV generation produces no direct emissions, but lifecycle considerations include panel manufacturing and end-of-life recycling. The UK's temperate climate provides moderate solar irradiance, making such installations viable with supportive policies.
Frequently asked questions
Southdown Quarry is located in the United Kingdom, at coordinates 50.3562° N, -4.2020° W, on a former quarry site.
The Southdown Quarry solar PV facility has a capacity of 1.5 megawatts (MW), making it a small-to-medium scale solar installation.
Southdown Quarry is owned by Ethical Power, a renewable energy developer and operator in the United Kingdom.
Solar PV in the UK is supported by the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme and the Renewables Obligation, which provide financial incentives for renewable electricity generation.
Solar PV helps the UK meet its net-zero emissions target by 2050 and its interim goal of 40 GW solar capacity by 2030, as outlined in the British Energy Security Strategy.