Floating Solar Farm Goes Live at Cheshire Quarry

A new floating solar installation has been commissioned at a Cheshire quarry, providing renewable energy generation for one of the UK's leading industrial silica sand producers while demonstrating the growing role of floating solar technology in the industrial sector.

Renewable energy specialist Nova has successfully energised a 400kW floating photovoltaic (FPV) array at North Arclid Lake, located within Bathgate Silica Sand's Arclid Quarry near Sandbach.

The project, developed in partnership with engineering and environmental consultancy RSK, features 650 solar panels mounted on a floating platform covering an area roughly equivalent to two Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Designed to generate clean electricity directly for quarry operations, the installation is expected to help reduce energy costs, strengthen energy security and support Bathgate Silica Sand's wider decarbonisation objectives.

The project was delivered from feasibility assessment through to construction and commissioning within a six-month period, with developers highlighting the ability to complete the installation without disrupting ongoing quarry operations.

Floating solar technology is increasingly being viewed as an attractive alternative where available land is limited or where industrial sites already possess suitable water bodies. By utilising existing lakes, reservoirs and former extraction sites, operators can generate renewable energy without impacting operational land or surrounding landscapes.

For Bathgate Silica Sand, the project forms part of broader efforts to modernise operations at a site with more than a century of quarrying history.

Nova said the scheme demonstrates how industrial businesses can use underutilised water assets to support decarbonisation while delivering tangible commercial benefits through reduced electricity consumption from the grid.

Simon Forrest, Chief Executive of Nova, described the project as an important milestone for both the company and the wider floating solar sector.

He said the installation was already delivering energy savings for the client and showcased the potential for floating solar technology at industrial sites with suitable water infrastructure.

The company believes projects such as Arclid Quarry will play an increasingly important role as the UK seeks to expand renewable energy generation and meet its longer-term decarbonisation goals.

Nova has built its reputation through marine and renewable energy projects and sees floating solar as a growing part of the UK's future energy mix, particularly for commercial and industrial users seeking to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy resilience.

Bathgate Silica Sand Managing Director David Robinson said the project represented a significant step forward for the business and highlighted the role quarries can play in supporting environmental sustainability.

He praised the delivery team for managing the entire process while allowing quarry operations to continue uninterrupted throughout the construction programme.

The successful completion of the project adds to growing interest in floating solar developments across the UK, where water-based renewable energy systems are increasingly being considered as part of wider strategies to reduce carbon emissions, lower energy costs and maximise the use of existing industrial infrastructure.

As energy-intensive industries continue to explore new pathways towards decarbonisation, projects such as the Arclid Quarry floating solar farm demonstrate how innovative renewable technologies can be integrated into operational sites without compromising productivity or business continuity.